The American International School in Abuja, Nigeria has clarified in a statement that it had in fact remitted the funds from ex-governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
The clarification may have become necessary because some media reports implied the institution was in the process of transferring the funds.
The money amounting to $720,000 is fees purportedly paid by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, for his 5 children studying in the school.
The statement signed by the Head of School, Greg Heghes, was released to the press on Sunday 28 April. Mr Heghes said the school’s decision to refund the money underscored its commitment to integrity and respect for Nigeria’s national institutions.
“Upon discovering that the school fees, which we had accepted in good faith, were indeed linked to an ongoing EFCC case, we promptly fulfilled the Federal Commission’s request by handing over these funds“, the statement clarified.
The school said it acknowledge the sensitivity of the issue and the fact it is a subject of an ongoing legal proceeding. Therefore, “We will refrain from making any further comment at this time”, he said.
Mr Bello was not expressly mentioned but the references made in the statement clearly referred to the same circumstances surrounding those of Bello and EFCC.
Genesis Of The Matter
The EFCC Chairman, Olanipekun Olukayode, had alleged the former governor paid $720,000 to the institution “cash“. He claimed the fund came from the coffers of the state and used to pay for the private education of the ex-governor’s five children in 2021.
Mr. Bello had quickly ran to court and obtained an order restraining EFCC from arresting him. On Thursday, the anti-graft agency withdrew its case at the Court of Appeal in Abuja. It had filed a motion seeking the court to set aside the interim injunction of a lower court barring it from arresting the former governor.
The drama in Nigeria over official corruption continues.
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