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Alhaji Yahaya Bello DID NOT pay the fees of his Children with monies from the Coffers of the Kogi State Government – Court affirms

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Yahaya Bello

 

 

Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has slammed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations surrounding the payment of school fees for his children.

Recall that the controversy began on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, when the EFCC Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede, alleged during a media briefing that Bello withdrew funds from the Kogi State Government account to pay his children’s school fees, just before leaving office.

Since the press conference, receipts purportedly showing payments of the said fees have circulated online, prompting a response from Bello’s media office.

In a statement on Friday signed by his spokesman, Ohiare Michael, the former Kogi governor, described the allegations by the EFCC as false and misleading.

The embattled former governor also said he didn’t pay the fees of his children with monies from the coffers of the Kogi State Government.

Bello also said he did not pay the $720,000 alleged by the EFCC Chairman or the $840,000 being bandied about on the internet.

The former governor added that the payment of the fees was not effected at about the time he was to leave office, as claimed by the EFCC chairman, but commenced in 2021.

The statement partly read, “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.

“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.

“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 shows that his Excellency, Yahaya Bello, has nothing to hide with regard to the payment of advance fees for his children. This unending harassment and persecution, even while in office, were among 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 since 15th December 2022 at the Federal High Court, Abuja. The Charge is pending and the Court has yet to make any finding or convicted anyone in respect of the said sum.”

Education

NYSC Official Arrested Over Female Corper’s D3ath After Abortion

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An official of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Ogun State, Abass Olalekan, has been arrested in connection with the de@th of a female corps member.

The corps member, Victoria Ariyo, serving under the Abeokuta South Local Government Area (LGA) of the NYSC, reportedly d!ed last Tuesday after undergoing abortion.

It was gathered that the corps member had terminated her pregnancy and d!ed from complications that followed the procedure.

Her remains were buried at Kobape Cemetery on Kobape-Sagamu Road in Abeokuta.

According to Daily Trust, Ariyo’s d3ath came barely a month after another female corps member, Adeleye Mary, d!ed in what has been described as mysterious circumstance.

Mary, who was serving under the same Abeokuta South LG, was attached to the Ogun State Television (OGTV) as her Place of Primary Assignment (PPA).

A source told the publication that both deceased corps members were friends.

“The first lady d!ed at her residence, which is not far from her PPA. They found her lifeless body in the apartment and, up till now, nobody can tell the cause of her d3ath,” the source said.

However, the second corps member who d!ed on Tuesday was said to have died from complications arising from an abortion procedure.

It was alleged that the NYSC official, who is the Local Government Inspector (LGI) for Abeokuta South, Abass Olalekan was culpable in the process leading to the corps member’s d3ath.

Sources told the publication that the LGI was allegedly involved in a romantic relationship with the deceased, which eventually led to pregnancy, and it was the termination that led to her d3ath.

“That is the fact in issue,” a police source who confirmed the NYSC official’s arrest told Daily Trust on Thursday.

The police source said the development raises questions about the legality of romancing “someone that should be in your care.”

Confirming Olalekan’s arrest, the source said, “He is in our custody at the command’s headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta.”

The police source, however, said there is no connection between the current incident and the one that occurred last month.

Spokesperson for the police in the state, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed death of Ariyo and said that the investigation was ongoing.

However, he failed to respond to questions on the arrest of the LGI and the alleged involvement.

“I can confirm that the case of the demise of Victoria Ariyo is under investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department,” Babaseyi said in a terse statement.

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Education

Teacher Reportedly Suspended In Kebbi After Rejecting Ramadan Palliative

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A classroom teacher in Kebbi State, Abduljalal Usman, has reportedly been suspended for three months without salary after rejecting a Ramadan palliative reportedly distributed by the state government.

The teacher allegedly declined the offer of one mudu of maize and one mudu of millet and also criticized what he described as poor governance in the state.

According to claims circulating online, the action was taken under the administration of Nasir Idris, prompting criticism from some commentators who described the suspension as an attempt to silence dissent and punish a public worker for speaking out.

Critics argue that educators deserve better working conditions, fair compensation, and respect, rather than disciplinary action for expressing their views.

@Mallam_jabeer who shared the report, said …

“A classroom teacher in Kebbi, Abduljalal Usman has been suspended for 3 months without salary simply for rejecting one mudu of maize and one mudu of millet offered as Ramadan palliative from the government and for speaking out against the bad governance.

 

Under the leadership of
@NasiridrisKG
, the Kebbi State Government is now punishing teachers for refusing humiliation and for criticizing the weaponization of poverty.

This is bias, incompetence and total abuse of power.

 

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Education

Tinubu makes new appointment

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President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Makoji Stephen as the new Rector of Federal Polytechnic Ugep in Cross River State.

The approval was granted by the Federal Government, and the appointment will take effect from March 17, 2026.

Dr. Stephen will serve a single term of five years in line with the Polytechnic Act 2019 as amended.

The decision is seen as part of efforts to strengthen leadership and improve the academic and administrative structure of the institution.

Before this new role, Dr. Stephen worked as a Chief Lecturer in the Department of Public Administration at Federal Polytechnic, Idah.

He also served as an Adjunct Faculty member in the Department of Public Policy and Administration at Miva Open University, Nigeria.

Dr. Stephen began his academic journey at Ahmadu Bello University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration in 1998 with Second Class Upper Division.

He later obtained a Master of Science degree in Public Administration from Benue State University.

In 2009, he earned another Master of Science degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Salford in the United Kingdom.

He further completed a Ph.D. in Business and Management with a focus on Human Resource Management at the University of Salford Business School in 2016.

His doctoral studies were supported by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.

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