Pascal Arogorn Ibe
Some leaders and former Chairmen of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) branch, has petitioned the National President of the association over the recent appointment of the former Treasurer of the union, as the Acting Chairman of the FUTO branch.
The petition drew the attention of the National President to the fact that the said former Treasurer, Mr. Uche Nwokeji, is currently a suspect in a fraud related case under investigation by the anti-graft agencies.
It noted that beside the ongoing investigations into multiple issues of alleged financial impropriety, that on December 2, 2020, a fresh petition by the branch PRO, Mr. Sam Ezema addressed to the acting Chairman, Mrs. Agnes Nti who is now the National Woman Leader revealed that N5million was overdrawn by the said Uche Nwokeji from the union’s account and remains unaccounted for.
The petition which was signed by three former chairmen – Rev. Oliver Nwagwu, Comrade Loveth Ekwemalor, Comrade C.J Ogbonna – and a representative of congress, Comrade Longinus Oguh regretted that in what smacks of connivance or complicity, rather than discussing the issues raised in the said petition and directing Nwokeji to refund the overdrawn money, Mrs. Agnes Nti directed the meeting not to discuss the issue and never to mention it outside the executive and that the matter was closed.
The petition reads in part: “Consequent upon this travesty meant to brazenly cover up of a financial crime, the ex-officio and former chairman of the union Mrs. Loveth Ekwemalor wrote to the Ag. Chairman distancing herself from such directive which was to short-change the branch with such humongous amount. She also wrote the National Vice President (South-East) on the matter and submitted her petition on December 5.”
Same day, stakeholders of the union also submitted a similar petition asking for the suspension of the FUTO branch executives over issues of financial misappropriation. Rather than meeting the stakeholders and key members of the union to resolve the rift, the National officers who were meeting with the branch executive same day merely met with Mrs. Nti and elevated the suspect Treasurer to Ag. Chairman of the union.
“The speed with which Nwokeji was installed as Ag. Chairman in spite of the weighty cases of financial fraud against him raises palpable suspicion of compromise and foul play.”
The stakeholders therefore requested that Nwokeji and his executive members should step aside so that an impartial investigation can be conducted into the many allegations of embezzlement and financial malfeasance levelled against them.
In the interim, the stakeholders recommended the setting up of a Caretaker Committee to lead the union pending the outcome of the investigation.
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