- Allegedly embezzles N180m every 3 months
- Reports of maladministration of universities refuse to go away
- Groups calls for probe
A group known as Young Professionals for Justice and Accountability in Nigeria have insisted that the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission(NUC) Professor Julius Okojie diverted over N20billion meant for the commission to his personal and business accounts.
The petition which was signed by an official of the group, Ken Agbala was written to the president of the Federal Government but a copy was obtained by aljazirahnews.
The group in the petition also urged the Minister of Finance and the Accountant General of the Federation to probe into the commission’s finances from 2010 till date.
The group stressed that for the past few years, the NUC scribe has been involved in diversion of varsity funds and massive looting, misappropriation of government funds and embezzlement.
It was noted in the petition that on the 21st December, 2011, Okojie alongside the Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun Delta State, generated a memo for the transfer of over N4billion from the University’s personal account number 0121403290, Wema bank N4,325,420,226.85 and overhead cost account number 0102940649 UBA N123,071,776.96 totaling N4,448,492,003.81.
This it said was diverted to NUC overheard cost account number 0102929861 domiciled in an unstated bank in Central Business District in Abuja.
The group alleged that Professor Okojie invested the huge sum in treasury bills at a profit margin of one hundred and eighty million naira (N180,000,000) quarterly for over five years making N3billion in the process.
According to the petition, the NUC scribe also diverted N7billion from the account of the Federal University, Petroleum Resources, Effurun.
It was also alleged that Prof. Julius Okojie was involved in fraudulent activities in the approval and accreditation of two hundred and thirteen faculties in thirty -three universities adding that each faculty paid a minimum of twenty million naira (N20,000,000) for it to be accredited.
The petition noted that all the funds went to Okojie’s personal and business accounts alongside the accounting officer of NUC.
The group called on the President to swiftly direct relevant security agencies on board of enquiries to look into the affairs of the commission throughout Okojie’s tenure.
The National Universities Commission is a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Education and has the duties of granting approval for all academic programmes run in Nigerian universities, granting approval for the establishment of all higher educational institutions offering degree programmes in Nigerian universities, ensuring quality assurance of all academic programmes offered in Nigerian universities and serving as channel for all external support to the Nigerian universities.
The commission which has been in existence over 47 years of existence, ensures it discharges its responsibilities by recruiting adequate and relevant man power.
Prof. Julius A. Okojie assumed office on August 3, 2006.
Reacting, Okojie who spoke with our reporter through telephone said the petition was planned by one of his board members just to blackmail him.
He said he was saddened by the allegations which have refused to go away. In an interaction with the medium, he vowed that he would never allow any of his relatives or immediate family members to ever hold public office.
“None of my family members will ever serve in government. These allegations are uncalled for. There is no proof whatsoever. The allegations are being bandied about by a board member of the commission,’’ Okgie said.
The NUC scribe also emphasized that he is not afraid of facing trial by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission adding that he was ready to go to court to clear his name.
Okojie who spoke with anger threatened said he had been harassed frequently by the press.
This is not the first time Okogie will be accused of financial impropriety and scandals.
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities(SSANU), had called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to sack the Executive Secretary a few months ago for his alleged role in the removal of staff of University Staff Primary Schools from universities’ payrolls.
SSANU National President, Comrade Samson Ugwoke, said Okojie’s removal was necessary because his action was an attempt to breach the peace in the Nigerian university system.
Also the Niger Delta youths, under the aegis of Niger Delta Believers, had accused Okogie of embezzling N4, 325, 420, 226.85 from the account of Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta State.
The group had called on the House of Representatives and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the said illegal transfer of funds, which they said, the NUC helmsman did for his personal interest.
Also in August, 2013, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called for the probe of the activities of the National Universities Commission (NUC) over alleged fraudulent practices on university accreditation in Nigeria.
The ASUU’s national treasurer, Dr Ademola Aremu and chairman, University of Ibadan, ASUU chapter, Dr Olusegun Ajiboye, said that it was unbelievable that the Professor Julius Okojie-led NUC could give a clean bill of health to universities where the Needs Assessment Committee set up by the federal government found rot in terms of deficient human capital and infrastructure.
He added that the activities of NUC had been tainted by alleged frauds over accreditation.
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