The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has detained Sonny Echono, executive secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

Demola Bakare, ICPC spokesperson, confirmed the development on Friday.

Bakare said that Echono was invited by the anti-graft agency on Thursday.

“The executive secretary of TETFund is here with us. He has been invited for questioning. He is still in custody. He was invited yesterday.” Bakare said.

“He was invited on Thursday. He has not been released. He’s still with us. Investigation is still ongoing.”

It was earlier reported that TETfund awarded two contracts to Fides Et Ratio Academy and Pole Global Marketing (PGM) within two months at the cost of N3.8 billion respectively without the approval of the federal executive council (FEC), which is required for the contract size.

The contract was to provide capacity building course and learning management systems to about 2 million students across higher institutions in the country.

In a rejoinder, TETFund said it did not award N7.6 billion contracts to two companies without due process.

The agency said it was wrong to say they were contracts, whereas they were ICT projects implemented under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which doesn’t require competitive bidding in public procurement.

TETFund further said its disbursement guidelines were approved by the president on the recommendation of the “Fund’s Board of Trustees and concurrence of the Honourable Minister of Education in line with the TETFund Act 2011″.

In an interview with TheCable, Echono said there was no form of irregularity in the N7.6 billion project.

For nearly a decade, fans of Nollywood actress, Doris Simeon, whose roles in Yoruba films in the 2000s captivated many, continued to yearn for her on-screen brilliance.

In an interview with actor Kunle Afod, Doris opened up about her hiatus and journey to America, inferring that the decision to leave Nigeria six years ago was personal.

She said: “Many people know that my child and his father are in America, and that’s one of the reasons I relocated to America.”

Doris married filmmaker Daniel Ademinokan, whom he met on a movie set in 2008 but divorced in 2011. The union produced a son, David. Upon their divorce, the filmmaker moved to America, where he married Stella Damasus, whom he would later divorce.

Although fully settled in the US, Doris says she misses home, especially the Nigerian delicacies.

“I left Nigeria in 2018, and since then, I haven’t returned to the country. Even though I miss Nigeria, especially the roadside food and street vendors, I long for my family and friends and being on set, especially when I see actors and actresses sharing behind-the-scenes moments on their social media platforms.”

The 44-year-old actress stated that she plans to visit Nigeria within the next one to two years.

Journey to America
After facing several denials, Doris revealed she got her visa to travel to America in 2012. The actress, who portrayed Da Grin’s girlfriend in 2010 ‘Ghetto Dreamz’ and co-produced ‘Omo Iya Kan’, said her initial attempt was in 2009 in Abuja but was denied, adding that she lost hope afterwards.

“I did the one I got in Lagos State, and when I wanted to go for the interview, I went to get a place to sleep on the Island to reach the embassy early because I was living on the Mainland. But I discovered I had left my passport at home. So, I decided to return to Akute on the Mainland to pick it up, but I encountered heavy traffic. When I arrived in Akute, my friend who was living there brought it for me.

“There was heavy traffic on the Third Mainland bridge, but I reached the embassy’s parking lot by 7:00 AM and began searching for my visa receipt. I gave up and planned to return home before finding the receipt in my wallet. Upon reaching the embassy, they only asked me what I was going for, and I said an award. They inquired if it was NEA, and I confirmed. They searched the movie online, found my name, and that’s how I obtained my visa,’’ she recalled.

The 2010 Zafaa Award winner for Best Indigenous Actress said she only visited America and returned to Nigeria before she decided to move in 2018 permanently.

America
The 2008 AMAA Awards’ Best Indigenous Actress noted that beginning a new life in America wasn’t easy.

The actress, currently a hairdresser, said: “If you’re lazy, you’ll suffer, and those who have been here for the past 20 and 50 years aren’t finding life easy. The system wasn’t designed to allow you to afford some bills without working or being given money. If you don’t work, you won’t eat or pay your bills; if the bills aren’t, the person will sleep in the cold. I have done much work since I relocated, such as a delivery job, personal shopper, and hairdresser. I currently work at ‘Heart and Home for Youths, a foster care and group home programs for youth and teen mothers in Maryland. ”

The actress, who received the 2015 All Youths Tush Awards AYTA Role Model (Movie) Award, added that one of the most challenging aspects for her was waking up early for work.

Doris, who secured her first role at an audition for a cameo in a situational comedy sitcom produced by Wale Adenuga Productions (WAP) titled ‘Papa Ajasco’ said, “The timing can vary depending on the shift, but regardless of the job, individuals still need to wake up early.”

Doris began her acting career with roles in three episodes of the Papa Ajasco comedy series and starred in several movies, including Oloju Ede, Alakada, Ten Million Naira, Modupe Temi, Eti Keta, and others.

The American International School of Abuja (AISA) has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to provide “authentic banking details” for the refund of fees paid for the children of Yahaya Bello, immediate-past governor of Kogi state.

It will be recalled that Bello had àllegedly paid $720,000 in advance as fees for five of his children from the coffers of the Kogi state government.

The children are in grade level 2 to 8 at the school.

On April 17, EFCC operatives laid siege on Bello’s residence in Abuja in attempt to arrest him over an alleged N80.2 billion fraud.

While the operatives were at the house, Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, arrived at the property and reportedly whisked Bello away.

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.

“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 letter reads.

“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.”

The school said it will draw the attention of the anti-graft agency if there are any further deposits by the Bello family.

In a statement signed by Greg Hughes, AISA also said “Ali Bello contacted the school on Friday 13 August 2021 requesting to pay the family school fees in advance until the students graduate from High School”.

The EFCC has since declared Bello wanted, with the NIS placing the ex-governor on a wanted list.