News
EFCC grills Fayemi over alleged misappropriation of N4bn
Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti state, is under interrogation at the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The ex-governor is at the zonal command of the anti-graft agency in Ilorin, Kwara state capital.
According to sources privy to the development, Fayemi arrived at the EFCC facility at about 10am on Thursday.
Operatives of the anti-graft agency are grilling the former governor over allegations of N4 billion misappropriation.
The probe is said to be connected to the handling of funds during his tenure as governor of Ekiti state.
Fayemi, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was governor of the state from 2018 to 2022. He handed over to Biodun Oyebanji after the latter won the governorship election in June 2022.
The former governor had reportedly written the EFFC seeking to delay his invitation over the alleged misappropriation of funds.
He was said to have requested a postponement due to his participation in the launch of two books in honour of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Fayemi was quoted as saying that as one of the organisers of the launch, he was bound to be present at the event.
News
Abuja American school has refunded $760k of Yahaya Bello’s children fees, says EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says the American International School Abuja (AISA) has refunded the fees paid for the children of Yahaya Bello, immediate-past governor of Kogi state.
Bello allegedly paid $760,910 in advance as fees for five of his children from the coffers of the Kogi state government.
The children are in grade levels 2 to 8 at the school.
“The money has been paid into public account,” Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, told TheCable on Saturday morning.
The anti-graft agency had asked the school to refund the money.
In response to a letter addressed to the Lagos zonal commander of the EFCC, the school said $845,852 was paid in tuition “since the 7th of September 2021 to date”.
AISA said the sum to be refunded is $760,910, because it had deducted educational services already rendered.
“Please forward to us an official written request, with the authentic banking details of the EFCC, for the refund of the above-mentioned funds as previously indicated as part of your investigation into the alleged money laundering activities by the Bello family,” the school said in the letter.
“Since the 7th September 2021 to date, $845,852.84 (Eight Hundred and Forty Five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty Two US Dollars and eighty four cents) in tuition and other fees has been deposited into our Bank account.
“We have calculated the net amount to be transferred and refunded to the State, after deducting the educational services rendered as $760,910.84. (Seven Hundred and Sixty Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ten US Dollars and Eighty Four cents).
“No further additional fees are expected in respect of tuition as the students’ fees have now been settled until they graduate from ASIA.”
News
‘Mischievous narrative’ — Yahaya Bello’s media office reacts to ‘American school refunding $760k’ claim
The media office of Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi state, has described claims that the American International School Abuja (AISA) intends to refund $760,000 of school fees paid in advance as a “mischievous narrative”.
On April 26, documents in which AISA asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to provide “authentic banking details” for the refund of fees paid for the children of Bello, made the rounds online.
In a letter addressed to the Lagos zonal commander of the EFCC, the school said the sum of $845,852 has been paid in tuition “since the 7th of September 2021 to date”.
AISA said the sum to be refunded is $760,910, because it had deducted educational services already rendered.
On April 23, Ola Olukoyede, the EFCC chair, had said Bello paid $720,000 in advance as fees for five of his children from the coffers of the Kogi state government.
However, in a statement signed by Ohiare Michael, the ex-governor’s media office said “Yahaya Bello’s children have attended the American International School, Abuja, since before he became Governor, and he has paid their fees as due without fail”.
The statement added that Bello did not use Kogi state funds to pay the fees.
“He did not pay USD720,000 or USD840,000 as alleged. The payment commenced in 2021, not when he was leaving office,” the statement reads.
“He did not use Kogi State Government funds to pay the fees.
“The EFCC’s attempt to recover funds from the school was unsuccessful, and the court mandated the school to continue providing services.
“The documents published online are public documents filed in court and show that Yahaya Bello has nothing to hide.
“The payment is the subject of an ongoing court case, and we await the EFCC’s proof in court.”
Michael added that Bello will not be intimidated by blackmail.
“We will not engage in prejudicial statements while the matter is sub judice,” the statement reads.
“We thank Nigerians who recognize the EFCC’s desperation as personal vendetta.
“We implore others not to be misled by mischievous narratives but to follow the case until justice is served.
“Yahaya Bello will not be intimidated by blackmail and will continue to follow due process.”
News
Sanwo-Olu didn’t announce N70k minimum wage increase, says commissioner
The Lagos government says Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of the state, has not announced a new minimum wage for civil servants in the nation’s commercial capital.
On Thursday, some social media reports claimed that Sanwo-Olu has increased the minimum wage in Lagos to N70,000.
The reports said the Lagos governor made the announcement while unveiling social intervention programmes.
Clarifying the report, Gbenga Omotoso, commissioner for information in Lagos, said Sanwo-Olu did not announce a new minimum wage.
Omotoso explained that Sanwo-Olu, at the unveiling of ‘Eko Cares’ in Ikeja on Wednesday, said since January, the state has been paying N35,000 wage award to workers.
The Lagos governor said workers who are earning N35,000 are now getting the sum of N70,000 monthly due to the additional wage award.
“I know that by the grace of God, very soon, we’ll see a new minimum wage that will be approved for the federal government and for the state government,” the Lagos governor was quoted as saying in a statement.
“The civil servants and all public officers, they know that since January we have continued to pay the wage allowance of minimum of N35,000 over and above what they were earning before.
“People that were earning a minimum of N35,000 to N40,000 before, they are now earning over N70,000. So, it’s important for people to know and for us to lay this thing very clearly.
“This government has doubled up and has not left its citizens on their own.”
The current national minimum wage is N30,000 and discussions on a new minimum wage are ongoing.
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