Yahaya Bello’s Media Office Refutes Claims of Misusing Government Funds
Claims that ex-Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, utilized state funds to pay for his children’s school fees have been denied by his media office.
Allegations were made by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, suggesting that Bello withdrew cash from the Kogi State Government Account, converted it through Bureau De Change operators, and preemptively settled his children’s school fees before his term ended.
Contrary to this, Bello’s media office released a statement on Friday dismissing Olukoyede’s accusations. The statement clarified, “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 circulated online.”
It was further explained that the school fees payments began in 2021, well before Bello’s tenure concluded.
The media office emphasized that Bello’s children had been attending the American International School in Abuja even before he held the governorship, and he consistently covered their fees without any lapse.
“Alhaji Yahaya Bello did not utilize Kogi State Government funds to pay his children’s fees,” the statement affirmed.
Regarding the EFCC’s intervention, the statement disclosed that a family member contested the EFCC’s effort to reclaim the fees already settled. An FCT High Court ruling sided with the family member, stating that the American International School could not independently reimburse the fees to a third party, including the EFCC.
“Given the circumstances, it is evident that the EFCC has not recovered any funds linked to school fees that were paid by Alhaji Yahaya Bello or his family members,” the statement concluded.