Bribery, Certificate Forgery Rock Abia State University Under Governor Alex Otti
The Abia State Government has constituted a five-member Special Investigative Committee to probe allegations of harassment, extortion, bribery and certificate forgery involving some staff and students of Abia State University, as part of efforts to restore integrity and academic excellence in the institution.
The Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists at Government House, Umuahia, on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
According to him, the committee was established to uphold ethical and academic standards in the state-owned university and ensure that all allegations are thoroughly investigated.
The committee is chaired by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, while the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Dodoh Okafor, will serve as Secretary.
Other members include Mr. Chinedu Ekeke, Professor Idowu Eluwa and Professor Lawrence Idemudua.
Kanu explained that the panel’s assignment includes identifying individuals involved in the alleged misconduct and recommending appropriate actions to the Visitor to the university.
The committee will also investigate allegations of bribery and certificate forgery levelled against a lecturer, assess the level of implementation of the 2024 white paper on the university investigation panel and identify existing gaps requiring attention.
The Commissioner noted that the committee would work closely with the university’s Governing Council in carrying out its responsibilities.
“The committee is expected to identify perpetrators and make appropriate recommendations to the Visitor to the university. It will also examine allegations of bribery and forged certificates, as well as determine the extent of implementation of the 2024 white paper on the university investigation panel,” Kanu stated.
On education reforms, the Commissioner announced that the 2026 Annual School Census commenced across the state on Monday, May 11, to generate reliable data for planning, policy formulation and access to the Hope Education Intervention Grant.
He said the exercise would cover schools across the three senatorial zones of the state and last for one month.
Prince Kanu further revealed that the Abia State Agency for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education has established 140 learning centres across the state to provide educational opportunities for adults and persons who missed formal schooling earlier in life.
He added that the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board recently organised training and capacity-building programmes for 265 headteachers and 306 Early Childhood Care Development teachers as part of ongoing efforts to improve school administration and learning outcomes in public schools.
“The exercise is designed to provide reliable educational data for planning and policy formulation while also enhancing access to intervention grants,” he said.
