Alleged N1.4 billion fraud: How OAU Vice-Chancellor got into trouble

Alleged N1.4 billion fraud: How OAU Vice-Chancellor got into trouble

OAU   2:50:00 PM

Obafemi Awolowo University



The acting Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Anthony Elujoba, who is under investigation over alleged diversion of N1.4 billion of the university’s fund, ran into trouble by drawing the remunerations of a substantive holder of his office, investigations by OXV234 have revealed.

Mr. Elujoba and the university’s bursar, Aderonke Akeredolu, were on Tuesday in Ibadan quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the allegation.

He was appointed acting vice-chancellor for a period of six months with effect from July 21.

According to the terms and conditions of the appointment as approved by the Federal Government, Mr. Elujoba’s fringe benefits include N120,000 monthly as furniture allowance.

Investigations however revealed that part of the allegations against him in a petition to the EFCC was that he received over N7 million as advance payment of the allowance for the five-year tenure of a substantive vice-chancellor.

The petition alleged that the acting vice-chancellor and bursar diverted monies from the university’s Fixed Assets and Endowment Fund, without approval from the Federal Ministry of Education and the Governing Council of the University, to pay themselves unapproved allowances, including the N7 million as furniture allowance to Mr. Elujoba.

Mr. Elujoba and Mrs. Akeredolu, who arrived the Iyaganku office of the anti-graft agency in Ibadan at about 5 p.m. on Tuesday, were quizzed for some hours and released on bail.

Before their arrival at the EFCC offices, scores of workers of the university and supporters had besieged the premises in solidarity with the officials.

When contacted, the EFCC Head of Media in the zone, Ayo Oyewole, declined to give details of the allegations against the acting Vice-Chancellor.

He however confirmed that he was was released on bail while further investigation was continuing.

The spokesman of the university, Biodun Olanrewaju, has however defended the accused officials, arguing that the acting vice-chancellor could not have been involved in financial malpractice as he was not in charge of the university’s finances.

“It is the bursar that is in charge of money, not the acting Vice-Chancellor. This is a man who does not even collect hospitality allowances or security vote as collected by other vice-chancellors,” Mr. Olanrewaju said.

He said Mr. Elujoba was brought into the university to stabilise the institution at a time of crisis.

“As acting vice-chancellor, he does the same work as any vice chancellor. Forget about the title, he coordinates the affairs of the university just like a substantive vice-chancellor,” he added.

Insinuating that the development had political undertones, Mr. Olanrewaju said Mr. Elujoba had already been recommended by the Senate of the institution as substantive vice-chancellor “with overwhelming majority of 295 votes against 8 votes for his opponent”.

The university’s spokesman also defended the loyalty demonstrated for the embattled vice-chancellor by workers at the EFCC office.

“You could see how all union members of the university stormed the Iyaganku office of EFCC in Ibadan to rally round him. That was to show that the man did not steal or embezzle as alleged,” Mr. Olanrewaju stated.

Alleged N1.4 billion fraud: How OAU Vice-Chancellor got into trouble

Alleged N1.4 billion fraud: How OAU Vice-Chancellor got into trouble

OAU   2:42:00 PM

Obafemi Awolowo University
The vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Anthony Elujoba, who is under investigation over alleged diversion of N1.4 billion of the university’s fund, ran into trouble by drawing the remunerations of a substantive holder of his office, investigations by PREMIUM TIMES have revealed.

Mr. Elujoba and the university’s bursar, Aderonke Akeredolu, were on Tuesday in Ibadan quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the allegation.

He was appointed acting vice-chancellor for a period of six months with effect from July 21.

According to the terms and conditions of the appointment as approved by the Federal Government, Mr. Elujoba’s fringe benefits include N120,000 monthly as furniture allowance.

Investigations however revealed that part of the allegations against him in a petition to the EFCC was that he received over N7 million as advance payment of the allowance for the five-year tenure of a substantive vice-chancellor.

The petition alleged that the acting vice-chancellor and bursar diverted monies from the university’s Fixed Assets and Endowment Fund, without approval from the Federal Ministry of Education and the Governing Council of the University, to pay themselves unapproved allowances, including the N7 million as furniture allowance to Mr. Elujoba.

Mr. Elujoba and Mrs. Akeredolu, who arrived the Iyaganku office of the anti-graft agency in Ibadan at about 5 p.m. on Tuesday, were quizzed for some hours and released on bail.

Before their arrival at the EFCC offices, scores of workers of the university and supporters had besieged the premises in solidarity with the officials.



When contacted, the EFCC Head of Media in the zone, Ayo Oyewole, declined to give details of the allegations against the acting Vice-Chancellor.

He however confirmed that he was was released on bail while further investigation was continuing.

The spokesman of the university, Biodun Olanrewaju, has however defended the accused officials, arguing that the acting vice-chancellor could not have been involved in financial malpractice as he was not in charge of the university’s finances.

“It is the bursar that is in charge of money, not the acting Vice-Chancellor. This is a man who does not even collect hospitality allowances or security vote as collected by other vice-chancellors,” Mr. Olanrewaju said.

He said Mr. Elujoba was brought into the university to stabilise the institution at a time of crisis.

“As acting vice-chancellor, he does the same work as any vice chancellor. Forget about the title, he coordinates the affairs of the university just like a substantive vice-chancellor,” he added.

Insinuating that the development had political undertones, Mr. Olanrewaju said Mr. Elujoba had already been recommended by the Senate of the institution as substantive vice-chancellor “with overwhelming majority of 295 votes against 8 votes for his opponent”.

The university’s spokesman also defended the loyalty demonstrated for the embattled vice-chancellor by workers at the EFCC office.

“You could see how all union members of the university stormed the Iyaganku office of EFCC in Ibadan to rally round him. That was to show that the man did not steal or embezzle as alleged,” Mr. Olanrewaju stated

Student Arranges Her Own Kidnap To Extort Money From Her Parents

Student Arranges Her Own Kidnap To Extort Money From Her Parents

Nigeria   7:13:00 PM

Police paraded a female student of Imo State University for allegedly arranging her kidnap, to extort money from her family.
The suspect, who gave her name to the police as Chinwendu Udensi, however, told reporters that she is Miss Jennet Okoro. She said she is from Imo State.
Also paraded were the three men that perfected the plan. Thirty-three other suspects were also paraded for offences ranging from cultism to robbery, car snatching, kidnapping, among others.
The police commissioner said Miss Udensi plotted her kidnap and demanded N6 million ransom from her parents.
He said she was, however, exposed when she sent one of her accomplices to pick the ransom on Obiri Ikerre flyover at Obio Akpor.
Odesanya said: “On November 6 about 4pm, Chinwendu Udensi, a female student of Imo State University, was kidnapped by gunmen in Imo State.
“The kidnappers called and demanded N6million ransom. Men of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit led by Ben Igweh set a bait for them and as they went to pick the money on Obiri Ikwerre flyover in company of the victim, they were arrested.



“It was later discovered that the victim connived with them and arranged her kidnap to extort money from her parents.”

In an interview with reporters, the suspect, who claimed to be a student of of Abia State University, Uturu Okigwe in Abia State admitted the crime.
She said she did it to get money from her wealthy but stingy father.
Her words: “Nothing much happened. I wanted to collect money from my family, so I faked my kidnap. I did it to continue my schooling.”
Asked if her parents did not take care of her, she answered in the affirmative.
Regretting her action, Chinwendu said: “I’m not happy about my present condition because I never thought it will be like this.
“I sincerely apologise to my family for the trauma I might have caused them in a bid to extort money from them for my project and other requirements. To my friends out there, my advice is that they should not involve themselves in such a crime.”

Brazil Legend, Pele Asked To Refund $300,000 By Akwa Ibom Government

Brazil Legend, Pele Asked To Refund $300,000 By Akwa Ibom Government

sports   10:17:00 AM

The Akwa Ibom State Government has asked Brazil legend, Pele, to refund a $300,000 appearance fee.


Pele was paid the amount, to grace the opening of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo two years ago.
The 30,000-capacity stadium, hosted Nigeria’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against Algeria last weekend and was declared open by former president Goodluck Jonathan in November 2014.
Pele failed to attend the inauguration, because there was a shift in dates for the opening of ‘The Nest of Champions’.


This has led to the state goverment demanding he pays back the money.
“The Akwa Ibom Government want their cash back, but so far all their efforts have proved abortive,” a source told AfricanFootball.
“They want all the $300,000, but some experts in the business have advised they should angle for a part of this sum.
“Pele’s people have continued to insist they were not the ones who breached the agreement and so they could not be liable.
“And that by the time a new date for the opening of the stadium was fixed, their client was committed to another engagement.”

MUST READ: MMM Sends Very Strong Warning To Their Participants

MUST READ: MMM Sends Very Strong Warning To Their Participants

Nigeria   10:06:00 AM

MMM Nigeria has sent a warning Nigerians to be very careful when making cash transfers or deposits in order not to fall victim to the scheme by the House of Representatives to arrest its participants.


In the statement shared via its Official Twitter page, MMM warned its participants to not narrate themselves….

See the statement Below

Husband beat wife to coma for investing family savings in MMM

Husband beat wife to coma for investing family savings in MMM

Nigeria   9:26:00 AM

A housewife, identified as Mrs. Ogenyi, has been beaten to stupor by her angry husband for allegedly investing the family’s saving in Mavrodi Mondial Moneybox, otherwise known as MMM, Daily Post reports.


Daily Post gathered that problem ensued between the couple, who resides on Balogun Street, Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos Sunday afternoon, after the husband returned from a trip to his hometown in Benue and discovered that the family saving box was missing.
On inquiry from his son, Oche, the father was informed that the mother went out with her friend around 4pm and had not returned.
The husband who works as a driver with one of the commercial transport companies later found the saving box broken and empty in the wardrobe.
A co-tenant informed Daily Post that on her return, the woman was shocked to see the husband as he was not expected home until month end due to the nature of his job.
According to the eyewitness, the husband inquired to know who broke the saving box but the wife could not give him any satisfactory answer.
“When the husband threatened to beat the wife if she fails to tell him who broke the box, she accepted breaking the box and investing the money into MMM. She thought she could get 30 per cent of her income and replace the money before the husband could return,” the source said.The source said the husband had saved the money, over N86, 000, for their new accommodation.
Angered by her action, the husband descended on the wife in commando style, beating her blue black.
All her efforts to explain to the husband that the money would yield income in the next 30 days fell on deaf ears as the husband insisted she must cough out the money before morning.

The man, who locked the door of their one room apartment to prevent sympatisers from rescuing the helpless woman eventually hit the woman with breakable plate and she collapsed.

The source said on realizing his wife was unconscious, he quickly ran out of the room, living the woman and their three-year-old son and fled to unknown destination.
The neighbours took her to the hospital where she is currently battling for her life.