· Aggrieved lecturers demand N3bn fraud probe
· VC appointment followed due process – Mgt
By Godfrey AKON
Two weeks after the appointment of Prof. Aisha Maikudi as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, UniAbuja, the crisis over her appointment is nowhere near abating as a group of aggrieved professors has called on the Federal Government to probe alleged financial fraud involving over N3 billion.
The allegations stem from a 2021 Presidential Visitation Panel report detailing financial discrepancies during the university’s 2019/2020 academic session.
While UniAbuja’s management insists that Maikudi’s appointment followed due process, the lecturers, speaking anonymously, claim that individuals implicated in the alleged fraud orchestrated her appointment to block further investigations.
The 2021 Presidential Visitation Panel report, submitted to former Education Minister Mallam Adamu Adamu, indicated significant irregularities in the university’s financial records.
It revealed a mismatch between the university’s potential revenue from student fees—estimated at N4.87 billion—and the N1.65 billion declared by the university bursary.
The panel recommended a thorough investigation into these discrepancies, noting that the Governing Council, then chaired by Alhaji Sani Maikudi, failed to address the inconsistencies.
The aggrieved lecturers allege a connection between the new Vice-Chancellor’s appointment and efforts to shield the council, particularly as Alhaji Maikudi is her father.
They further accused Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, of collaborating with Prof. Maikudi to suppress the findings of the 342-page report.
Na’Allah’s tenure reportedly ended under a cloud of controversy, marked by clashes with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, which accused him of violating the university’s administrative protocols.
The lecturers insist that the Federal Government investigate the allegations to uphold the university’s integrity.
“This matter goes beyond individual appointments; it concerns accountability and transparency in our educational system,” one lecturer stated.
As the dust remains unsettled, stakeholders await the Federal Government’s response to these serious allegations.
Speaking on the VC’s appointment, the management insists that the process adhered strictly to all relevant laws and procedures.
In a statement issued by the institution’s Governing Council, signed by Acting Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Mrs. Islamiyat F. Adulrahim, the university affirmed that the appointment, announced on December 31, 2024, complied with the University of Abuja Act and the Universities, Miscellaneous Provisions, Amendment Act 2003, No. 1 of 2007.
The statement highlighted the leadership of Air Vice Marshal Saddiq Ismaila Kaita, Rtd, Chair of the Governing Council, in ensuring due process throughout the transition.
Acknowledging grievances raised by some parties during the transition process, which began in March 2024 with the advertisement of the position, the statement noted that efforts were made to address concerns through dialogue and the involvement of key university stakeholders, including the Senate and the local Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.
“Contrary to insinuations in some quarters, the Council strictly complied with the relevant provisions guiding the appointment of Vice-Chancellors,” the statement read. “All complaints and issues raised were considered, and efforts were made to resolve them amicably.”
“The Governing Council emphasized the widespread approval of Professor Maikudi’s appointment within and beyond the university community. It also encouraged those who participated in the highly competitive selection process, which featured 87 applicants, to demonstrate sportsmanship,” it said.
