The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced investigation into the alleged mismanagement of government funds by the vice-chancellor of the Kano State University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Shehu Alhaji-Musa.
Alhaji-Musa is being investigated for awarding a contract for the purchase of office equipment and library stationery, costing the institution N584,591,000 as well as the furnishing of a 400-seat capacity twin theatre for N608,200,00, which was later found out to be a scam.
In a letter by the EFCC, Alhaji-Musa captured the project under the 2021 final supplementary intervention of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
The EFCC letter reads, “This Commission is investigating a case in which there is a need to obtain information from you in respect of the above-mentioned contracts purported to have been awarded by your office (copy attached).
“In view of the above, you are requested to kindly furnish us with the following information: confirm the genuineness or otherwise of the contracts; if in the affirmative, avail us with details of the beneficiary of the contracts, mode of payment for their execution to include the account number(s) and bank(s), certified true copies of all documents regarding the award and execution of the said contracts; status of the contracts, and any other information that may assist our investigation”.
EFCC said that the request was made pursuant to Section 38(1) of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004.
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Similarly, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, KSUT chapter has alleged that the embattled VC obtained a loan facility to purchase eight exotic cars worth N200 million without due process, even after the State Government gave him a car worth N40 million.
These allegations of fraud and abuse of power were contained in separate letter by the branch chairman, Muhammad Gayya, and the assistant secretary general, Mudasir Nasir, which was addressed to the pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council.
The university lecturers are seeking for a sanction against the VC before the expiration of his tenure on January 7, 2023.
“The union on several occasions has expressed serious dismay over the procurement of eight (8) exotic vehicles on loan facility amounting to two hundred million naira [N200,000,000.00] with 10% interest from a commercial bank.
“The procurement was a flagrant disregard to Section 16 Subsection (1), Section 24, Section 25, Section 42 of Public Procurement Act 2007, Kano State public procurement reforms and Kano State Appropriation Law 2019.
“It was quite obvious that the former Pro-Chancellor A.B Mahmoud SAN, knowing fully that the procurement was illegal, went with one of the vehicles as part of his severance package.
“You may wish to also note that the outgoing Vice Chancellor has one exotic vehicle (Lexus Jeep), a Toyota Prado Jeep, a Peugeot 806, and another Toyota Jeep procured by the state government worth forty million naira (N40,000,000.00) in his custody.
“The union is calling on the council to, as a matter of urgency, do the needful; otherwise, ASUU-KUST will not hesitate to take legal action,” the letter read in part.
ASUU noted that it is the responsibility of the university tenders board to recommend the award of contracts above N2 million, adding that the VC flouted the rule by spending the 2020 needs assessment intervention fund.
“The 2020 Needs Assessment Intervention amounting to one hundred and ninety-four million naira (N194,000,000.00) released to the university in December 2021, was purportedly expended without the statutory Council Tenders Board meeting and approval of the Governing Council.
“It is sad this development of continuous usurpation of the powers of the Governing Council by the management of the University.
“The council should ensure the fund (N194 million) is recovered in order to avert unnecessary litigation,” the letter read.