Stakeholders have urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to beam its searchlight on the role of the management of American International School Abuja (AISA) as it investigates alleged $1 million in advance school fees paid by Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State....CONTINUE READING
The stakeholders who spoke with our correspondents on condition of anonymity advised the EFCC to thoroughly investigate all parties involved and to hold any individual(s) or organisation found culpable to account.
It would be recalled that the Bello paid upfront to the school, ostensibly as fees for his children and wards studying at AISA to the tune of nearly one million US dollars ($1,000,000. 00).
It is already in the public domain that the EFCC is investigating this huge upfront school fee, which is said to be clearly in contravention of Nigerian economic and financial laws.
Our correspondents gathered that the EFCC seized $760,910.84 out of the $1 million that Bello paid to AISA as advanced school fees for four children until graduation because it suspects this to be a case of alleged money laundering.
It is an open secret that after the confiscation of part of the advance school fees, the EFCC invited and interrogated the ASIA Head, Mr Greg Hughes, and some management staff about the funds.
The sources said that during the interrogation of officials of the school, the EFCC noted that the advanced school fees were being treated as proceeds of an alleged crime.
The stakeholders who urged the EFCC to dig deep in its investigation said that there were allegations that the school might be used as a channel for laundering money.
They emphasised that while the commission continues to grill Yahaya Bello and his conspirators, the management of ASIA, particularly Mr. Hughes needs to answer some pertinent questions begging for answers.
According to them, it would be logical for the school to exonerate itself from the corruption allegations to restore the confidence of Nigerians in the system.
They pointed out that parents and, indeed, Nigerians would like to get convincing explanations from the school on the following:
I. Why did the Head of School, alongside the Business Manager of the American International School Abuja, arrested by the EFCC?
II. What were the circumstances that led Mr. Hughes, as head of the school, to receive $1 million from a serving Nigerian governor, purportedly as school fees in advance, for his children? Could Mr. Hughes claim he is not aware that this is in direct contravention of provisions of the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering Act and, therefore, potentially an economic crime?
III. What plans does the school management under Mr. Hughes have to recover the sum of N3bn that the EFCC seized from AISA under his watch as Head of School? It is to be reiterated that the said particular amount is currently the subject matter directly of an active investigation by the anti-corruption agency against this same serving Nigerian governor.
This unsavory development also begs the critical question of whether indeed AISA had a functioning corporate governance model.
Members of the public who may be interested in making AISA as a school destination of choice for their children and wards will be a little wary going forward.
There is no doubt that the rumours about how the Head of the School has handled this worrying situation may have compromised the image, reputation, and performance profile of an otherwise flagship institution.
There are serious concerns among AISA parents and stakeholders that the Head of School is not being forthright about his role in this alleged sordid affair.
