Money laundering: Yahaya Bello breaks silence on paying $720,000 as children’s school fees

• In a statement signed by his Media Officer, Ohiare Michael, the governor disclosed that the receipts in circulation were released by his lawyers

Former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has opened up on allegation of paying the sum of $720,000 as school fees for his children.

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, had on Wednesday disclosed that Bello withdrew $720,000 from the state’s treasury to pay for his children’s school fees in advance before leaving office.

Reacting to Olukoyede claims, Bello denied paying the quoted amount for his children school fees using the state government’s funds, saying the comments of the EFCC boss were misleading.

In a statement signed by his Media Officer, Ohiare Michael, the governor disclosed that the receipts in circulation were released by his lawyers.

Bello explained that his children have been attending the American International School, Abuja, before he became governor and he has been paying their fees as at when due.

The statement titled “Payment for school fees: Setting the records straight”, partly reads, “While we reserve our rights to seek redress against the said defamatory statements, permit us to briefly state the following for the purpose of setting 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”

According to the statement, the payment of the school wasn’t done when Bello was about to leave office.

“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.”

The statement insisted that the EFCC didn’t recover any money belonging to the former governor or his family members