Yahaya Bello Refutes EFCC Chairman’s ‘Defamatory’ Claims, Asserts School Fee Payments Were Legitimate

Former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has described as untrue, the account by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, that he withdrew cash from the Kogi State government account, sent same to Bureau De Change Operators and then used same to pay the school fees of his children in advance.

 In a statement by the media office of the former Kogi State governor and signed by Ohiare Michael, the former governor maintained that he did not pay the fees of his children with monies from the coffers of the Kogi State government, stating that the narrative by the EFCC boss was defamatory.

The statement, titled: “Payment of school fees, setting the records straight, said: “On Tuesday, April 23, 2024, Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, in conduct which we view as unbecoming of a legal practitioner, organised a press conference where he alleged (amongst other outrightly defamatory statements) that His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, withdrew cash from the Kogi State Government account, sent same to Bureau De Change operators and then used same to pay the school fees of his children in advance.

“According to Olukoyede, the payment was made just about the time the former governor was to leave office. Since the said press conference, receipts of payments of the said fees bearing the names of His Excellency’s children and those of other family members, who separately paid their fees, have been flying all over the internet.

“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 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.”

Bello, who insisted on following due process in line with the rule of law, said no amount of blackmail would intimidate him.

He noted that the payment of the fees was not effected at about the time he was to leave office as claimed by Olukoyede but commenced in 2021.

The former governor insisted that he has filed every document concerning the transactions before the court, and has nothing to hide.

“His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello did not pay the sum of $720,000 as alleged by the EFCC Chairman or $840,000 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 the 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.

“The court subsequently mandated AISA to continue to provide the services it had been paid with respect to the fees. From the foregoing, it is clear that no money belonging to Alhaji Yahaya Bello or his family members with regard to school fees has been recovered by the EFCC.

“Now, let it be known that, contrary to misleading narratives by the EFCC, all the documents published online i.e. receipts and letters, that the EFCC has released online, in furtherance of its unrelenting persecution of the former governor, are documents filed by lawyers in the suit instituted on behalf of Alhaji Yahaya Bello and others who paid fees for their wards under the Advance Fee Payment Agreement with AISA.

 “Those documents, having been filed by his lawyers, are thus public documents, which show that His Excellency, Yahaya Bello, has nothing to hide concerning the payment of advance fees for his children. This unending harassment and persecution, even while in office, were among the key reasons he sought to enforce his fundamental human rights.

“We state that the payment of these fees and the legitimacy thereof is the subject matter of Charge No. FHC/CR/573/2022, filed by the EFCC on 15th December 2022 at the Federal High Court, Abuja. The charge is pending and the court has yet to make any finding or convict anyone in respect of the said sum.

“It is imperative to remind Mr. Olukoyede, who is a lawyer, that once parties have submitted a dispute to the court, they are to shun all actions and statements that may prejudice the hearing of the matter or the mind of the court.

“Since the matter is subjudice; we say no more; we await the EFCC’s proof of the allegations in court, which is the only venue where the proof of these allegations matters. We thank Nigerians who have recognised the obvious desperation of the EFCC boss to convict the former governor by all means in the court of public opinion rather than in the law court, as a personal vendetta, with the connivance of like minds and not a fight against corruption.

 “We implore others who might have been misled by their shenanigans not to be fooled by mischievous narratives but to follow the case through until justice is served. Finally, our Principal, Yahaya Bello, doesn’t visit law enforcement agencies “through the backdoor.

“He has insisted on following due process in line with the rule of law. No amount of blackmail will intimidate him.”

Ibrahim Oyewale

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