Acting Rector of the Federal polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, Imo state, Mr Chris Onyemenonu was grilled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at its Port Harcourt zonal office for alleged embezzlement of funds of the Academic Union of Federal Polytechnic Nedeke and its cooperative Society to the tune of N73. 5 Million.

Mr Onyemenonu who was granted bail on December 18 , 2023 was summoned alongside the ex – chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Federal polytechnic Nekede, Dr Uzoma Ibeaja and Dr Okafor Okoroaffia who are also currently on bail.

The arrest of the acting Rector was sequel to the petition written by Mr Dickson I. Ozuitem, a Chief Lecturer in the department of Cooperative Economics and management.

Mr Ozuitem , in his petition to the zonal office of the Anti- graft in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, allegedly accused the immediate past Rector of Nekede Polytechnic , Dr Michaels Arimanwa of having sheltered Dr Ibeaja Uzoma , chairman of ASUPNEK/ ASUPNEK- MPCSL, Mr Chris Onyemenonu of the Department of Chemistry ,and Chairman of the Land acquisition committee, now the acting Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, and Dr Okafor Okoroaffia , Financial Secretary of the committee even when an investigative committee had indicted the trio for emblezzememt of over N73 million of union members fund , which they were ordered to refund back to the union.

He said that rather, the trio were rewarded with prominent appointments by the School management by the immediate past Rector, while members of the Co-operative are groaning in pain of losing their life savings.

The petition which was written through his counsel J.C Nwaogu& Co , and sighted by our correspondent which read: ” In January 2014, one Dr Uzoma Ibeaja, a lecturer in the Department of Accountancy was elected chairman of ASUPNEK and, also the head management of ASUP- MPCSL. He initiated a programme to purchase a large parcel of land which will be partitioned amongst willing members of the co-operative for the purpose of building a housing scheme.

He appointed one Chris Onyemenonu, a lecturer in the department of Chemistry as chairman of land acquisition while Dr Okafor Okoroaffia was Secretary of the Land acquisition committee. Soon the committee announced that it has found a 563 plots of land at Oforola in Owerri west suitable for the proposed project.”

The petitioned further read, “The union obtained a loan of N250 million from Zenith Bank to part fund the Land acquisition and members of the Co-operative were made to pay the sum of N750, 000 per plot of land subscribed. In payment of the bank loan, Dr Ibeaja had deliberately merged the savings of members of ASUPNEK MPCSL to deliberately create a financial maze so as to dishonestly obfuscate the finance of the union and the cooperative.

This was the state of affairs that led management of the Polytechnic under the leadership of Dr C.U Njoku to set up a committee to investigate the financial irregularities and abuse of office in ASUPNEK and ASUPNEK MPCSL. ”

Ozuitem disclosed that the investigative committee in its report which it submitted on August 2, 2018 had indicted Dr Uzoma Ibeaja, Mr Chris Onyemenonu and Dr Okafor Okoroaffia for abuse of office and emblezzememt of the funds to the tune of N73,564, 452 Million by employing dishonest means including the use of fictions and non-existent persons, duplications and inflation of contracts to embezzled the funds of ASUPNEK and ASUPNEK MPCSL.

“During the hearing of the investigation committee the trio refused to disclose the identity of a certain Alozie Technical Co whom they claimed to have paid the sum of N19, 500, 625. An amount they shared amongst themselves and was never paid to anyone.

“They also refused to disclose the identity of a certain Uzuegbu Gerald Obioma who the claimed to have paid N18, 501, 000. Dr Ibeaja and co paid one JUBOCS Nig Limited N23, 611, 350 Million for preparations of title documents, registration of same, procurement of Occupancy and design of layout plan.

Dr Ibeaja and Co also claimed to have paid the same JUBOCS Nig Limited the same of N32, 781, 350 but unknown to them that the investigation committee had obtained the original and earlier bidding document from the company .

“Even the same job awarded and paid JUBOCS Nig limited was also again awarded to a certain company Development Embassy Nig Limited to the tune of N7, 850, 000 of which the sum of N6, 356,000 have been paid as deposit,” they alleged.

“Sir, above is the manner in which Dr Uzoma Ibeaja, Dr Okafor Okoroaffia and Mr Chris Onyemenonu fleeced and depleted funds of ASUPNEK MPCSL and ASUPNEK. Three of them were officially written by management to refund the money. They neither denied the indictment nor reply the letter. Sadly, this was already at the twilight of the administration of Dr C.U Njoku as the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede .

“As soon as Dr Arimanwa became the Rector for reason yet unknown they were rewarded by appointed into prominent positions in the Polytechnic, notwithstanding their indictment and crime. While Dr Uzoma Ibeaja was appointed Director of Evening Programme, Dr Okafor Okoroaffia and Mr Chris Onyemenonu were appointed as Dean Student Affairs and Director for Entrepreneurship Centre,” he asserted.

Ozuitem, appealed to the Anti- graft Agency to thoroughly investigate the matter to save members of the ASUPNEK MPCSL and ASUPNEK from losing their life savings. (Daily Sun)

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