Tension As Nigerian Anti Graft Agencies Widen Investigations Into Alleged Diversion Of Billions Of Naira Of University Funds By The Former AAU Vice-Chancellor And His Cronies.

FEAR and anxiety has gripped members of staff of the Edo State-owned Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, particularly those who served as Deans and Directors during the tenure of the former Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Ignatius A. Onimawo as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) intensified investigations into the alleged massive embezzlement, mismanagement and diversion of the University funds. Investigation by the Trojan News revealed that there was palpable fear, tension and anxiety among staff of the University yesterday, following the report making the rounds that some past Deans and Directors have been invited for interrogation by the anti-corruption agencies to explain their role in the allegation of financial fraud and maladministration allegedly perpetuated by the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ignatius A. Onimawo. It would be recalled that Professor Ignatius A. Onimawo is currently being investigated for possible prosecution for alleged large-scale financial fraud, bordering on embezzlement, mismanagement, diversion and misappropriation of the University funds running into billions of naira. Last week, precisely on the 5th and 6th of July, 2021, Professor Ignatius A. Onimawo was in the dragnets of the ICPC in Abuja alongside with his personal assistants while in office, Messrs Christopher Akhigbe Omo-Iriogbe and Eugene Osemudiamen Eraikhuemen, whose private bank accounts were allegedly used as accessories in the diversion of the University funds in large scale. The immediate past Bursar of the University, Mr. Lawrence Esene, was also said to have been quizzed by the ICPC over the alleged financial fraud rocking the University, while the Acting Bursar of the University Mr. Emmanuel Omomoh and some staff of the University’s Bursary Division were on hand to provide information on the alleged financial fraud. Trojan News gathered yesterday that while ICPC has scheduled another engagement date with the former Vice-Chancellor and others, EFCC is poised to quiz Prof Ignatius A. Onimawo and his co-travelers, Christopher Akhigbe Omo-Iriogbe, Eugene Osemudiamen Eraikhuemen and others in the said alleged financial crime on 15th of July, 2021. It was learnt yesterday that the University has already approved the memo from the EFCC dated 22nd June, 2021 and signed by one Muhar S. Bello, to the University’s Registrar, demanding the release of both Christopher Akhigbe Omo-Iriogbe and Eugene Osemudiamen Eraikhuemen for interview, pursuant to Section 38(1) & (2) of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 and Section 21 of Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended. Trojan News gathered that the past directors in the University that made the search and interrogation list of the ICPC and EFCC as at yesterday included the Director of the University’s Entrepreneurship Development Centre, Prof. Osadolor Odia and that of AAU Consult Limited, Dr. Hanson Iyawe. The past Deans and Heads of Departments that are likely to face the interrogation of the anti-corruption agencies of government included the Deans and HoDs who were made or forced by the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ignatius A. Onimawo to pay monies into the bank account of his personal staff, Mr. Chris Iriogbe during accreditation exercise. In the University’s Entrepreneurship Development Centre, there is the allegation of mismanagement, diversion and failure to account for millions of naira during the Prof. Ignatius A. Onimawo’s period as Vice-Chancellor. The University’s immediate past Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Chief (Sir) Lawson Omokhodion had revealed that the University’s Entrepreneurship Development Centre operated outside the University requirements and yet was shielded by the former Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ignatius A. Onimawo, adding that “the Centre was being critically reviewed by Council prior to Covid-19 crisis. Final audit of this unit is outstanding. “Similarly, there is allegation of foul play in AAU Consult Limited, given the information that the Consult “had outstanding receivables of ₦120 million and owed the University ₦70 million in advances but no University staff knew from where the receivables could be collected. ”The University’s immediate past Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Chief (Sir) Lawson Omokhodion had revealed that ₦350 million of the University’s funds was transferred from its various accounts/revenue units between October 2016 and December 2018 into the private bank accounts of Christopher Omo-Iriogbe and Eugene Eraikhuemen. He added that the practice may have continued till May 11, 2021 and the large sums transferred into the private accounts of the VC’s personal assistants “were subsequently paid to the VC, his wife and children.”Omokhodion said: “Council found the financial management practices of the former VC and Bursar very strange and opaque. The Bursar was questioned for paying AAU monies into the private accounts of VC’s personal assistants and he claimed the VC approved the practice. In this way the funds of the University were recklessly abused. The statements of Zenith Bank Savings accounts of Christopher Omo-Iriogbe and Eugene Eraikhuemen covering the period June 1, 2016 to May 10, 2021 should be tendered to see the actual amounts of AAU funds transferred into their accounts. The amount could be in excess of ₦1 billion. “Also before the scrutiny of the anti-corruption agencies is the puzzle surrounding the ‘disappearance’ of the credit balance of ₦75 million in the liquidated Allstates Trust Bank in favour of AAU. NDIC records had it that the money had been collected by certain individuals in the University. Given the available facts, the University’s Entrepreneurship Development Centre and AAU Consult Limited would attract the searchlight of the anti-corruption agencies. ”The former Vice-Chancellor is also to convince the anti-corruption agencies why he should not be prosecuted over the alleged discovered anomalies in the number of staff of the University. More than 200 staff names not on the university payroll were said to have received emoluments as approved by Prof. Ignatius A. Onimawo as Vice-Chancellor and every attempt to conclude investigations into the said discovery was either thwarted or frustrated by the former VC. Prof. Ignatius A. Onimawo is also to explain why he authorized the disbursement of over N5 billion naira NEEDS Assessment programme in fragrant violation of due process. Prof. Ignatius A. Onimawo left as Vice-Chancellor on May 11, this year, while the University was in administrative and financial comatose evident in massive strike actions by all staff unions (ASUU, SSANU, NAAT and NASU) in the University as a result of more than 1 year of non-payment of staff salaries. Prof. Onimawo’s era in the university is said to have witnessed serious decline in academic standards and a reign of repression, victimization, sycophancy, corruption and administrative highhandedness.