The sum of $760,000 intended for Yahaya Bello’s children school fees has been seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The money was paid by the governor to American International School for his four children, but the anti-graft agency seized the money which was said to have constituted money laundering under Nigerian laws
Sahara reporters quoted some documents which indicated that Yahaya Bello’s nephew, Ali Bello entered into agreement with American International School in August, 2021 where the sum of $845,852.84 was instalmentally prepaid as school fees for Bello’s four children.
The payment was to cover the children’s tuition fees throughout their stay in school.
Having been revealed, the anti-graft agency summoned school authorities for interviews regarding the funds through a letter dated September 7, 2023, approximately a year after the agreement’s execution.
During these interviews, the EFCC expressed suspicions that the advanced school fees constituted proceeds of crime and insisted on the reimbursement of the funds through a designated Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account, citing the school’s unwitting role in money laundering.
While acknowledging fees paid for ongoing school sessions were not deemed illicit, the EFCC exempted $84,942.00. The remainder, totaling $760,910.84, was demanded by the EFCC to be transferred to its specified CBN account.
Subsequently, after the school requested an official written demand, they complied by paying $1,000 initially and the remaining sum thereafter
