Ojukwu Varsity Mgt Dismisses Allegation Of Contract Racketeering By Unknown Staff
The management of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University has dismissed the petition written by some unidentified staff of the university to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleging contract racketeering and fraud against Prof. Kate Omenugha, the Acting Vice Chancellor.
The University in a Statement signed by Dr Harrison Madubueze, the Public Relations Officer said it will not lend credence to transparently unfounded accusations made with only one design in mind; nor will we engage in a futile exchange.
The staff who wrote through a lawyer had accused Omenugha of flagrant abuse of her office, and indulged in financial rascality through the splitting and awarding of contracts for personal gains.
The petition was titled: “petition against the Acting VC For contract Racketeering Amounting To Public Procurement
Violation, Fraud and Financial Crimes”
It alleged that Omenugha awarded contracts to family members in violation of the Public Procurement Act 2007.
The University dismissed the claims as unfounded and a calculated attempt to tarnish the reputation and career of the Acting Vice Chancellor as well as the public standing of the University
“As a factual matter, no law enforcement agency has communicated any petition for the attention of the Acting VC nor requested her response regarding any petition.
“It is unquestionably curious that an alleged petition which has yet to result in any official inquiry has already been turned into a media spectacle.
“This development exposes the true motives of the faceless beings behind these allegations.
“The ongoing process of substantiation for the office of Vice Chancellor at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu University seems to have created an opportunity for forces of misogyny against the Acting Vice-Chancellor and appears to have inspired this bout of mischievous mudslinging.
“Prof Kate Omenugha is the second female professor of Mass Communications in Nigeria and the first female to head the COOU.
“Since being appointed as Ag. VC of the University on 5 December, 2023, Professor Omenugha has spearheaded transformative change across various facets of the university in terms of values, infrastructure, research, curriculum and standing of the University, including community engagement.
“These changes have brought to an end the days of unchecked privilege by certain vested interests accustomed to exploiting the University for private ends without respect for constraints or guardrails. Those days are gone and will not return.
“The university community and members of the public can rest, assured that these unfounded allegations and the accompanying cacophony will not deter the Ag. VC from her passionate and transformative service to our students and their families, our host communities, and to our State and our country.
“She continues to work tirelessly with the support of the organs of the University to make Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu University a
model institution,” it said
