Lawyer Petitions EFCC, Calls For Probe Of Ex-UNICAL VC Akpagu Over Alleged Financial, Procurement Infractions
A legal practitioner, Nurat Ileigo Usman, has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate alleged financial, procurement and accountability infractions linked to the administration of Professor Zana Itiunbe Akpagu as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) between 2015 and 2020.
Usman, Principal Partner at Law & Order Attorneys, made the request in a petition dated September 18, 2026, and addressed to the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, made available to the Daily Independent on Friday.
The anti-graft agency acknowledged receipt of the petition on September 22, 2026, according to a copy of the acknowledgement letter made available to newsmen in Abuja on Friday.
In the petition, Usman said her clients were concerned about the manner in which public funds and contracts were handled during Akpagu’s tenure as Vice-Chancellor.
She said the petition was prompted by issues contained in the Presidential Visitation Panel Report and Federal Government White Paper on the University of Calabar covering the relevant period.
According to the lawyer, the visitation findings raised concerns over compliance with public procurement procedures, financial controls, project execution and accountability for funds entrusted to the institution.
She alleged that the reports also contained concerns over the award and execution of contracts, including alleged contract splitting and non-compliance with applicable due-process requirements.
Usman further alleged that several projects funded through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), NEEDS Assessment and other sources remained uncompleted during the period under review.
She urged the EFCC to obtain and examine the university’s complete procurement records for the period, alongside the Presidential Visitation Panel Report and the Federal Government White Paper.
The lawyer also requested a comprehensive forensic financial and technical audit of TETFund, NEEDS Assessment and other externally and internally funded projects executed during Akpagu’s administration.
She said the proposed investigation should cover the university’s financial and procurement activities, particularly capital projects, major contracts and intervention-funded projects.
Usman further asked the commission to investigate the identities and beneficial ownership of companies and contractors that received substantial payments from the university during the period.
“Our petition is founded on grounds that weighty allegations were made concerning the use of public funds but same were never subjected to proper investigations to ascertain the veracity of same,” she said.
She maintained that an independent investigation was necessary to establish the facts surrounding the management and utilisation of public resources at the institution.
According to her, the University of Calabar, being a federal institution, holds its resources in trust for the Nigerian public, making transparency and accountability in the management of its funds a matter of public interest.
Usman said only a thorough investigation involving documentary review, financial analysis and physical verification of projects could determine the propriety or otherwise of the allegations.
She added that her clients were prepared to provide the EFCC with relevant documents and information in their possession to assist the commission’s investigation.
Akpagu, who served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar from 2015 to 2020, is also identified in the petition as the Peoples Democratic Party’s 2027 candidate for Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku Federal Constituency of Cross River State.
The petition did not establish that the allegations had been proven against Akpagu, but called for the EFCC to investigate the issues raised in the visitation findings and determine whether any financial or procurement violations occurred.
Usman urged the commission to treat the matter as one of urgent public interest.
