The school said that it has nothing to hide in the matter and has been cooperating with the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to address the matter as part of its respect for the national institutions in the country.
The American International School in Abuja, which has been receiving backlashes for aiding corruption, has reacted to the controversy surrounding the alleged advance payment of $760,000 for school fees by the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello for his children in the school.
The school said that it has nothing to hide in the matter and has been cooperating with the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to address the matter as part of its respect for the national institutions in the country.
The school disclosed this on Saturday in a statement issued by the Head of School, Greg Hughes and obtained by SaharaReporters, adding that it had returned the fees to the EFCC.
The statement admitted that the school accepted an advance payment for school fees and was duly documented in their records and had since returned the money to the EFCC in compliance with a request to carry out investigations.
The statement read “Statement from the American International School of Abuja Re: Recent media reports regarding AISA and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“Recent media reports have highlighted issues between the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), AISA and a family with children enrolled at the school, stemming from an investigation carried out in 2022.
“As a school, we did accept an advance payment for school fees, and duly documented these fees in our records. Upon learning that the school fees we accepted in good faith were, in fact, part of an ongoing case with the EFCC, we turned over these funds in compliance with this federal commission's request. Our compliance to remit these funds underscores our commitment to upholding institutional integrity and our respect for the national institutions of Nigeria.
“At no point has the school been accused of any wrongdoing in relation to this case, and we are cooperating fully with the EFCC to address matters currently before the courts.
“As these legal matters are being resolved within the Nigerian judicial system and involve one of our families, we will refrain from making any further comments at this time.
“As an institution, we remain committed to providing excellent service to our school community in line with our core values, vision and mission."
SaharaReporters had on Friday reported that human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, demanded a full scale prosecution of the American International School for money laundering.
Sowore, who was the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2019 and 2023 general elections, had made the demand on Friday while reacting to reports that the American International School Abuja agreed to refund $760,910.84 which Bello paid for his children’s tuition in advance.
The payments were made to the American International School, Abuja (AISA).
The documents released to the Federal Capital Territory High Court on December 19, 2023, surfaced on the internet following the ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into the activities of Bello as governor.
In one of the receipts, payment was made for up to the 2034/35 session.
Reacting to the reports, Sowore in a post on his X handle said that the school, Bello and his nephew must be prosecuted for money laundering instead of being allowed to refund the laundered money.
Sowore had stressed that if such an offence was committed in America, the school and all the people involved in the money laundering would be fully prosecuted according to the justice system of America.