NEWS
MOUAU Suspends Registrar, Bursar as Governing Council Launches Sweeping Probe into Alleged ₦6.5bn Financial, Administrative Irregularities
The Governing Council of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State, has suspended the institution’s Registrar and Bursar as it launched a far-reaching administrative investigation into alleged financial and administrative irregularities within the university.
The decision was reached during the university’s 96th Statutory Meeting, held between June 29 and July 3, 2026, where the Council established an Administrative Panel of Inquiry to investigate the implementation of council decisions and other administrative matters covering the period between July 2024 and February 2026.
The resolution was subsequently communicated by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ursula Ngozi Akanwa, during the university’s 262nd regular Senate meeting.
As part of measures to ensure an unhindered investigation, the Governing Council directed that both the Registrar and the Bursar proceed on leave at the convenience of the Vice-Chancellor pending the conclusion of the inquiry.
While the Council did not officially disclose the specific reasons behind the action, sources within the institution linked the development to concerns over financial management, recruitment processes and several administrative decisions taken during the tenure of the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe.
The investigation comes against the backdrop of revelations contained in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s report, which alleged financial infractions involving approximately ₦6.5 billion at the university between 2021 and 2022.
The audit report, submitted to the National Assembly, reportedly identified 32 instances of non-compliance, including questionable payments, procurement violations, extra-budgetary expenditures and unremitted revenues.
According to the report, about ₦5.9 billion was allegedly tied to questionable payments arising from contracts awarded above approved thresholds, procurement breaches, unapproved expenditures and projects reportedly not executed despite payments.
The university was also accused of failing to remit ₦578.9 million, representing 25 percent of its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), to the Federal Government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund as required by law.
Among the issues highlighted in the audit were contracts valued at more than ₦2 billion allegedly awarded in violation of procurement regulations, over ₦1 billion spent outside approved budgets, an alleged ₦44.18 million overpayment of severance allowance to a former Vice-Chancellor, ₦64 million spent on unapproved Christmas and Sallah gifts for staff, and ₦30.5 million paid for goods and services allegedly not supplied.
The report also questioned the retention of official vehicles by former principal officers and the alleged improper conversion of two official vehicles previously assigned to the current Vice-Chancellor while she served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
Additional findings included allegations of contract splitting to evade procurement thresholds, payment of ₦275 million through non-personal advances, ₦6.1 million spent on foreign trips without the required approvals, ₦44.6 million in unauthorised salary arrears paid from IGR, and ₦45 million allegedly paid to a consultant without verifiable evidence of beneficiaries.
The Auditor-General further cited ICT projects allegedly executed without mandatory approval from the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), contracts awarded without competitive bidding, unrecovered cash advances estimated at ₦242 million, unsupported contract payments and unauthorised allowances paid outside the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
The report also noted that the university management failed to provide satisfactory responses to several audit queries seeking clarification on the identified infractions.
The ongoing investigation has equally renewed scrutiny of the administration of the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe.
University sources alleged that approximately ₦130 million was paid to the former Vice-Chancellor as severance benefits, a matter they claimed forms part of the issues before the Governing Council.
The sources also questioned a recruitment exercise conducted shortly before the expiration of his tenure, alleging that while approval was reportedly granted for the employment of 426 staff, nearly 700 individuals were eventually recruited.
They further alleged that some job seekers paid between ₦1 million and ₦2.5 million to recruitment agents in exchange for employment opportunities.
The current Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ursula Ngozi Akanwa, had previously distanced her administration from the recruitment exercise, maintaining that the process was completed before she assumed office.
She reportedly advised applicants who had not received their first salary payments to understand that they were not among the 426 personnel officially approved for employment by the university.
Members of the university community who spoke anonymously welcomed the Governing Council’s decision to institute the probe, expressing hope that the investigation would be transparent, impartial and comprehensive.
They urged the Council to ensure that anyone found culpable of financial misconduct, abuse of office or recruitment irregularities is held accountable in accordance with the law.
The Administrative Panel of Inquiry is expected to establish the facts surrounding the allegations and recommend appropriate administrative or disciplinary actions where necessary.
Meanwhile, when contacted by telephone on the development, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Anyaso O. Anyaso, said he was not aware of the matter. He, however, did not return subsequent calls as earlier promised.