Particulars of how the American Worldwide College Abuja supplied to refund $720,000 allegedly paid by a former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, for his kids’s tuition charges have emerged.
The varsity’s letter, which went viral on-line on Friday, confirmed that the previous governor paid the cash in August 2021, upfront for college phrases his kids had but to make use of.
The letter is a part of the displays the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) filed in help of the N80 billion cash laundering fees it instituted in opposition to Mr Bello after he left workplace in January.
The case is earlier than the Federal Excessive Court docket in Abuja. EFCC has but to arraign Mr Bello, who has skipped two court docket classes and managed to keep away from arrest by the fee.
EFCC chairperson Olanipekun Olukoyede, earlier on Tuesday, alleged that Mr Bello made an advance cost of his kids’s charges of over $700,000 allegedly taken from the state coffers.
He alleged that Mr Bello transformed the cash taken from the Kogi State treasury to {dollars} with which he paid the varsity charges. He urged the members of the general public to strategy the Federal Excessive Court docket to acquire licensed copies of information filed by the fee as proof in opposition to the previous governor.
On Friday, the letter written by the American Worldwide College Abuja the EFCC searching for to refund the cash emerged on-line. The varsity despatched the letter in 2022, apparently throughout investigative actions specializing in cash trails that led the fee to the varsity.
Mr Bello has denied the allegation.
In the meantime, within the letter dated 24 October 2022, the varsity requested the EFCC to offer banking particulars for the refund of charges paid for the youngsters of Yahaya Bello.
The letter, addressed to the Lagos zonal Commander of the anti-graft company by the varsity, mentioned the sum of $845,852 has been paid in tuition “because the 7 September 2021 up to now”.
“Please ahead to us an official written request, with the genuine banking particulars of the EFCC, for the refund of the above-mentioned funds as beforehand indicated as a part of your investigation into the alleged cash laundering actions by the Bello household,” the letter learn partly.
It added: “Now we have calculated the web quantity to be transferred and refunded to the State, after deducting the academic companies rendered as $760,910.84. (Seven Hundred and Sixty Thousand, 9 Hundred and Ten US {Dollars} and Eighty 4 cents).
“No additional extra charges are anticipated in respect of tuition as the scholars’ charges have now been settled till they graduate from ASIA.”
Greg Hughes, who signed the letter on behalf of the varsity, disclosed that “Ali Bello contacted the varsity on Friday 13 August 2021 requesting to pay the household faculty charges upfront till the scholars graduate from Excessive College.”
Ali Bello, a nephew of the previous governor, faces N10 billion cash laundering fees on the Federal Excessive Court docket in Abuja.
The EFCC has since declared former governor Bello needed, with the Nigeria Immigration Service inserting the ex-governor on a watchlist.
READ ALSO: Court docket summons EFCC chair for alleged contempt over strikes to arrest Yahaya Bello
How charges had been paid
Cost receipts for the transaction between Mr Bello and the American faculty, filed as displays within the case in opposition to Mr Bello, surfaced on social media on Friday.
The receipts confirmed that Mr Bello paid the charges for 5 of his kids in grade degree 2 to eight on the faculty.
As an example, the sum of $10,510.71 was paid on 9 September 2021, whereas $19,296 was paid on the identical day.
For Mr Bello’s third youngster, $13,744.29 was paid into the American faculty’s checking account on 25 January 2022. Equally, the previous governor paid $21,470 on behalf of the third youngster on the faculty.
On 7 September 2021, Mr Bello allegedly paid $17,994, whereas on 19 October 2022, $21,470 was paid to the American faculty by the previous governor.
The previous governor’s arraignment on the Federal Excessive Court docket in Abuja has been stalled on two events as Mr Bello has refused to look in court docket, citing a court docket judgement barring EFCC from arresting him.
Assist PREMIUM TIMES’ journalism of integrity and credibility
At Premium Occasions, we firmly consider within the significance of high-quality journalism. Recognizing that not everybody can afford expensive information subscriptions, we’re devoted to delivering meticulously researched, fact-checked information that continues to be freely accessible to all.
Whether or not you flip to Premium Occasions for each day updates, in-depth investigations into urgent nationwide points, or entertaining trending tales, we worth your readership.
It’s important to acknowledge that information manufacturing incurs bills, and we take pleasure in by no means inserting our tales behind a prohibitive paywall.
Would you take into account supporting us with a modest contribution on a month-to-month foundation to assist preserve our dedication to free, accessible information?
Make Contribution
TEXT AD: Name Willie – +2348098788999