By Tony Okafor, Awka
Official documents obtained by our correspondent have revealed that Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, Anambra State, is facing scrutiny from three major law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies—the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Nigeria Police Force—over separate allegations linked to the institution’s administration under Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kate Azuka Omenugha.
The documents, comprising official correspondences and petitions, show that the agencies are either conducting investigations or have been urged to probe allegations ranging from procurement breaches and financial impropriety to abuse of office and forgery.
The latest development is the issuance of what the ICPC described as a “third and final notice” to the Acting Vice-Chancellor, demanding the submission of key institutional and staff records in connection with an ongoing investigation.
In a letter dated June 4, 2026, with reference number ICPC/ANS/TAVAFF/IA-003/2026, the anti-corruption agency expressed concern that its earlier letters dated April 22 and May 6, 2026, had not received formal responses from the university despite acknowledged receipt.
Acting under Section 28(1) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, the commission requested certified true copies of several documents, including personal files of specified academic staff, departmental handbooks, approved final-year results for the 2024/2025 academic session, postgraduate teaching eligibility guidelines, and records relating to students’ fees.
The ICPC also requested academic materials from the Department of History and International Studies, particularly documents relating to the course, Foreign Policy of Major World Powers, as well as the Faculty of Arts Information Handbook.
The commission directed that the documents be forwarded to its Anambra State Office in Awka within the stipulated period and warned that failure to comply could amount to obstruction of investigation, an offence punishable under Sections 15, 28(10) and 40 of the Act.
The agency reiterated its commitment to promoting transparency, accountability and due process in public institutions.
Again, documents obtained by our correspondent also show that the Nigeria Police Force has commenced action on a petition alleging forgery, abuse of office and the award of public contracts to family members and associates in violation of procurement regulations.
A letter from the Office of the Inspector-General of Police dated June 4, 2025, indicated that the petition had been referred to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Intelligence Department (FID) for investigation and necessary action.
The correspondence, referenced CB:7000/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.840/186 and signed by DCP Lateef Adio Ahmed on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, stated that the petition was submitted by Inoloji Chambers on May 29, 2025.
According to the document, the petition alleged forgery, abuse of office, and the award of contracts to family members and cronies in breach of public procurement laws and due process requirements.
Although the police did not disclose the identities of those implicated or details of the contracts involved, the referral suggests that the allegations have attracted the attention of the police hierarchy and are now the subject of official scrutiny by the Force Intelligence Department.
In a related development, the EFCC has also been petitioned to investigate Prof. Omenugha over allegations of contract racketeering, procurement violations, financial impropriety and abuse of office.
The petition, dated January 27, 2025, was submitted by Shield & Sword Consult, a legal firm acting on behalf of anonymous members of staff of the university. A supplementary petition dated February 10, 2025, raised additional concerns over the administration of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) research grants.
The petitioners alleged that contracts linked to a N4 billion TETFund Special High Impact Project Intervention were split and awarded to companies allegedly associated with a contractor identified as Mr. Chukwuma Paul Chukwuka without compliance with statutory procurement procedures, including advertisement and competitive bidding.
They further claimed that several projects, including a staff biometric capturing exercise, solar street-light installations at the College of Medicine, Amaku, Awka, and renovation works at the university’s gatehouse in Igbariam, were awarded to or executed by persons allegedly connected to the Acting Vice-Chancellor’s family.
Other allegations contained in the petition include claims that some contractors engaged by the university were inactive on the records of the Corporate Affairs Commission, questions over the management of university-related commercial ventures, and the alleged diversion of funds earmarked for the production of student identity cards.
The petition also raised concerns over the handling of a TETFund-funded Department of Architecture building project and alleged irregular deductions from research grants awarded to academic staff under the 2024 TETFund Institutional-Based Research intervention.
According to the petitioners, beneficiaries of the programme were allegedly directed to remit N600,000 each from their N2 million research grants to a private business account under the guise of logistics payments.
They urged the EFCC to undertake a comprehensive investigation into the university’s procurement processes, financial transactions, admissions procedures and other administrative activities.
Neither the EFCC nor the police has publicly announced the outcome of any investigation arising from the petitions.
As of the time of filing this report, Prof. Omenugha and the management of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University had not publicly responded to the allegations despite being contacted.
