Alleged $720k Fraud: You lied, I didn’t pay my children’s school fees from kogi coffers – Yahaya Bello replies EFCC

Embattled former governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello, has debunked allegations surrounding the payment of school fees for his children from the state coffers.
Recall Chairman of the Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Mr Olanipekun Olukoyede, during a media briefing on Tuesday April 23, 2024, alleged that Bello withdrew funds from the Kogi State Government account to pay his children’s school fees, just before leaving office.

Reacting, Yahaya in a statement titled “Payment for school fees: Setting the records straight” and signed Friday by Ohiare Michael, denied the allegations.
“While we reserve our rights to seek redress against the said defamatory statements, permit us to briefly state the following to set the records straight: “His Excellency, Yahaya Bello’s children have attended the American International School, Abuja well before he became Governor and he has paid fees for his children as and when due and without fail.

His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello did not pay the sum of USD720,000 as alleged by the EFCC Chairman or USD840,000 as is being bandied about on the internet.
The payment of the fees was not effected at about the time his Excellency was to leave office as claimed by Mr. Olukoyede but same commenced in 2021. Alhaji Yahaya Bello DID NOT pay the fees of his Children with monies from the Coffers of the Kogi State Government.

When the EFCC approached the American International School Abuja (AISA) to illegally recover funds legitimately paid by Alhaji Yahaya Bello and other family members, a member of the family challenged the EFCC’s unlawful acts to recover funds legitimately paid. The FCT High Court, in Suit No.
“FCT/HC/2574/2023 between: Mr. Ali Bello v. The Incorporated Trustees of American International School, Abuja, held that AISA could not lawfully and unilaterally refund to a third party, including the EFCC, fees paid by the parties to the suit.