…Stinks over N8bn scam
…Forgery, nepotism commonplace
Just barely a decade old, the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo has already had its fair share of corruption allegations, DAUDA ISMAIL writes.
The Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, FUHSO, established as the first specialised health university on May 20, 2015 by the Federal Government of Nigeria is enmeshed in allegations of financial impropriety less than 10 years into its existence.
In a letter dated November 19, 2024, and signed by the universitys legal representatives, Anene Chamba Legal Practitioners & Consultants, Professor Innocent Achanya Otobo Ujah, the institutions former vice-chancellor, was accused engaging in several financial improprieties and administrative violations during his tenure, and requested the EFCC to conduct a forensic investigation into the universitys financial dealings from its inception to November 6, 2024.
At a special meeting on October 17, 2024, FUHSOs Governing Council suspended Professor Ujah after repeatedly failing to respond to the summons to clarify financial discrepancies. Professor Ediga Bede Agbo, the deputy vice-chancellor (Administration), was appointed acting vice-chancellor. But despite his suspension, Professor Ujah purportedly convened an illegal meeting of the universitys Senate on November 4, 2024, during which he announced the appointment of Professor Stephen Obekpa Abah as acting vice-chancellor. The university’s registrar, Malam Aminu Abba, issued a press statement on November 6, 2024, disassociating the institution from the meeting and its outcomes.
The universitys management cited several instances of financial misconduct against him, including the misuse of a TETFund grant of N72 million intended for operational vehicles that was reportedly misappropriated. Payment vouchers and a forged Interim Registration Report, IRR, were allegedly used to process payments to Globe Motors, and a property controversy where Double K Resorts, donated to the university in 2023 by Mr Bongos Ikwue, was discovered to have been involved in a questionable deed of assignment involving a purchase price.
Double K Hotel, was gifted to FUHSO by Mr. Bongus Ikweu in a deed of gift (R/No-224622839248311), signed by the donor (Mr. Bongus Ikweu) and Prof. Innocent Ujah (the donee), with Mal Aminu Abba as a witness in front of the Commissioner for Oaths at the High Court of Justice in Otukpo, Benue State. Payments of N439,567,296.28 were made on December 19, 2022, and N20,300,697.20 on December 9, 2022.
But, nearly N100 million was awarded for contracts, with an extra payment of N18,256,661.22 made on February 21, 2024, to Intra Engineering for remodeling the same existing structure. However, since the day it was gifted, the building has only been painted, and the renovations cannot possibly amount to more than N3 million, according to credible sources involved in such contracts. In fact, a signboard displays the same building as an abandoned project.
Investigations revealed that funds were misappropriated through inflated office expenses and unauthorised Daily Travel Allowances, DTA. He reportedly claimed over N50 million in DTA from 2021 to 2024, implying that he has been absent from the university for more than 714 days. This amount could escalate to N120 million when considering other expenses related to staff at a small, developing university. Also, there are allegations of extorting students and parents by charging N75,000 for medicals, which encompasses N25,000 for a non-existent health insurance scheme and drug tests that were never conducted, another N25,000 for drug tests, and N25,000 for medical examinations. For three years, not a single student has been enrolled or insured under NHIS, or drug tested, yet parents and students are charged this amount each session for the same reason.
Furthermore, the Vice Chancellor is accused of diverting student school fees for personal titles, awards, and other ceremonies, directly withdrawing funds from the student school fees account.
These fees were allegedly diverted for personal activities, including funding chieftaincy ceremonies and novelty events. The petitioners also alleged that he forged procurement documents to facilitate payments for vehicles, and used university funds for personal gain.
Since 2019, this institution, which coincidentally serves as the home of the TETFund boss, Professor Sonny Echono, was said to have received over N8 billion from TETFund, and federal government allocations totaling N1,427,169,017.62 through GIFMIS (a sub component of the ERGP which will support the public resource management and targeted anti-corruption initiatives area through modernising fiscal processes using better methods, techniques and information technology) from 2019 to the present. However, shockingly, not a single project has even reached 40% completion.
Also, contracts were awarded to friends, family, and close associates. One notable instance includes the awarding of the Animal House construction project to one Mr Vincent Odo Okoko, who belongs to the Okpoga Development Community, ODC, from which the Vice Chancellor hails. Additionally, Layer 3 Company, which is also from the Vice Chancellor’s locality, received contracts among many others.
The allegations against him during his time at NIMR include claims of contract fraud and inflated contracts involving companies whose directors are closely related to him. Some of the companies implicated in the allegations from NIMR that he also employs at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, include Goga Consults, DPI Nigeria, A and B Evergreen Global Ventures, Marafa Ventures, and many others. All of these contractors are active at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo. A & B Evergreen, one of the implicated firms, is currently managing over six projects at FUHSO, with the former Vice Chancellor allegedly awarding contracts to this and other companies, such as Goga Consult and Marafa. These companies are linked to previous corrupt practices associated with him. Exhorbitant consultancy fees have said to have been paid to many of them, nearly 100%, despite the jobs not even commencing.
Prof. Ujah was also reported to have used his nephew, Daniel Ochigbo, and his brother-in-law, Richard Adah, as the Procurement Officer and Head of Internal Audit, respectively, to carry out his contract scam. Together, they allegedly participated in embezzling and mismanaging university funds by awarding contracts without following due process and approving jobs without proper certification.
Although Daniel Ochigbo, holds an HND, he is not a Certified Procurement Professional, CPP, and lacks any formal procurement certification, rendering him unqualified for the position, which has enabled these activities to occur.
Whispers of discontent circulate, suggesting that the former Vice Chancellor did not operate in isolation; he allegedly colluded with a powerful clique of elite and influential figures who conspired together to defraud and sabotage the progress of the university-situated in the hometown of the TETFund boss. This shocking revelation follows his earlier suspension from the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, for similarly disgraceful misconduct. Ujah was appointed as the Director General of Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, by Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in April 2010 but was dismissed on July 27, 2016, due to corruption charges, yet he was still appointed the Vice Chancellor of FUHSO despite such baggage.
Speaking to this medium, a youth leader in Utukpo, Oche Daniel said: I really dont understand why erudite professors in Nigeria will always allow their names to be enmeshed in corruption allegations. These are people we expect to live exemplary lives, but instead, they are not better than the uneducated who find themselves in positions of authority.
Look at how a university intended to be a world class health sciences institution that will train and produce high-quality healthcare professionals that will contribute to the development of the health sector in Nigeria has turned out. We no longer know who to trust and to look up to in this country.
