As the people of Kogi State grappled with severe mismanagement, deprivation, and underdevelopment under the leadership of former governor Yahaya Bello, his children were enjoying sumptuous international meals at one of Nigeria’s premier institutions — the American International School of Abuja (AISA).
The April 2024 lunch menu at AISA, where Bello had prepaid nearly $846,000 in tuition fees for his five children using Kogi State funds, mirrors a directory of top-tier restaurants.
According to the school’s lunch menu procured by THE WHISTLER, the offspring of the former governor had a variety of dishes to choose from, including Philly cheesesteak, Salami pizza, BBQ chicken burritos, beef kebabs with jollof rice, char-grilled chicken with mac and cheese, chutney chicken sandwiches, and chicken shawarma wraps.
Each meal is accompanied by fresh vegetable sides such as niçoise salad, fattoush salads, coleslaw, and Greek salads. Vegetarian options are also available, including avocado and feta sandwiches, falafel wraps, lentil spaghetti bolognese, and tofu with mushrooms in sauce over rice. Fresh fruit and beverages are included daily.
This lavish menu starkly contrasts with the “suffering and hardship” that Bello was alleged to have imposed on Kogi citizens, as stated in a petition submitted by Kogi Conscience to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The petition highlighted the plight of the Kogi people, citing “records of numerous deaths and tales of hunger, starvation, and withdrawal of children from educational institutions.” While Bello’s children savored global cuisine, many in Kogi reportedly struggled to afford a basic meal.
The civil society group criticized Bello for seemingly prioritizing his family’s luxury over the welfare of the impoverished state he once governed. They questioned how the former governor could allegedly misappropriate N300bn intended for the 21 Local Government Areas of the state during his tenure, while local government employees went months without receiving full salaries.
In documents reviewed by THE WHISTLER, the American International School of Abuja (AISA) confirmed receipt of the aforementioned $845,852.84 from Bello. Bello is alleged to have paid this sum from the Kogi State government’s accounts as tuition fees for his five children studying at AISA.
At the time, four of the children were enrolled in the school from grades 2 to 8, while the fifth payment was for a “future student to be enrolled.”
In a letter to the EFCC, the school agreed to refund $760,910.80 of the total amount paid by the former governor, after deducting fees for “educational services rendered” to Bello’s children.
