ASUU on strike again? Is this weapon still working? How many of these people we call leaders have their children in any of these Universities that will be affected? Even Lecturers in our universities now prefer to send their children to universities abroad or private Universities here. How does closing our Universities directly affect Yar'adua or Sam Egwu? This is 2009 for heaven sake, 21st Century.


EFCC arrests VC with N6m cash in his bedroom

culled from Nigerian Compass, June 24 2009

•N500m fraud rocks varsity

•Bursar spends N110,000 on recharge cards

•Fake receipts issued for N25m collected from students

•Another official indicted

MONTHS after he was asked to go home on suspension, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested the embattled Vice-Chancellor,  of the Imo State University, Professor Chuka Okonkwo, over an alleged N500 million fraud.

The anti-graft agency confirmed the arrest yesterday.

Also arrested with Okonkwo are the Bursar of the institution, Mrs. U.A Nwogu, and one other person.

According to a source at the commission’s Abuja office, the VC was arrested with huge sums of money in his bedroom.

The source put the denomination of the currencies seized in Okonkwo’s room during a search conducted by the operatives as: N4.554 million, $11,203 and 700 euros.

The Nigerian Compass learnt that the VC allegedly collected N25 million, being the proceeds of the N5,000 paid by each of the graduating students of the school.

Said the source: “I can confirm to you that the Imo State Vice-Chancellor, the school Bursar and one other senior official are with us over alleged fraud totalling about half a billion.

“The EFCC, acting on information, stormed the school campus and arrested the VC after being interrogated.

“We searched his bedroom and recovered N4.554 million, $11,203 and 700 euros. Cash deposit slips of huge sums of money were also recovered. At the time of arrest, he operated nine bank accounts with four banks.

“He also unilaterally awarded contracts without due process. He awarded a N20 million contract to buy six cars. He approved for himself and collected N12 million to renovate his lodge without any sign of renovation of the building.

“Without the approval of the school Council, he connived with the Bursar to use fake receipts to extort N5,000 each from graduating students of the school.

“The amount so far collected is N25 million which was not paid into the school account. He claimed that the money is with one of his friends.

“He approved N110,000 for the Bursar to buy recharge cards”, the source said.

According to investigations, the EFCC chairperson, Mrs. Farida Waziri, has given the commission’s legal team a nod to file charges against the trio.

The spokesman of the commission, Mr. Femi Babafemi, confirmed the arrest and promised to give further details.

Strike has become a curriculm in the educational system in Nigeria.But whether hidden type of curiculum or planned, students are not always happy whenever industrial action comes knocking. Only God knows how long this one is going to last.May God help us in this country.