BREAKING: ICPC Summons Nnamdi Azikiwe University Acting Vice Chancellor Over Contract Award Scandal

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has invited the Acting Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu, to appear before it on Thursday, March 13, 2025, over a contract award scandal.

According to sources, the contractor involved in the scandal will also be summoned to appear before the ICPC.

The contract in question, worth N370 million, was awarded under the 2025 Federal Government appropriation bill, which has yet to be passed by the National Assembly.

Sources close to the matter revealed to SaharaReporters that the university was invited by the ICPC, but Prof. Ikechebelu allegedly attempted to hide the invitation, requesting a formal written notification instead of responding to the initial phone call.

"ICPC invited Vice Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Anambra State, Prof Ikechebelu Joseph over the contract award scandal SaharaReporters reported earlier this month," one of the sources told SaharaReporters on Thursday.

"After that the contractor will also appear. He is to appear before ICPC today (Thursday). I can't say whether it is in Abuja headquarters or in Enugu Zonal Office.

"I can't tell you authoritatively whether both contractors were invited because the VC is hiding it. Also note that he awarded the job at N370 million under FGN 2025 appropriation bill which is yet to be passed by the National Assembly.

"The university was invited officially but Ikechebelu is hiding it. They called him on phone and he told them to write him officially."

On March 2, SaharaReporters reported that the university was at the centre of a contract scandal involving its acting vice chancellor.

Investigations by SaharaReporters revealed that a contract for the university's perimeter fencing was awarded twice—first to Messrs Abdullahi Hawawo Construction Co. Limited in 2024 for ₦180,031,437.50, and later to Dukonni Nigeria Limited in February 2025 for ₦370,738,367.05 without officially revoking the initial contract.

According to sources within the university, the Acting Vice Chancellor’s actions directly violate procurement laws, as the second contract was awarded without proper cancellation of the first.

The University management later, on March 3, confirmed it awarded a contract for the university's perimeter fencing to two different companies even as the university made desperate efforts to downplay the scandal.

The school management in a statement titled "Nnamdi Azikiwe University refutes false contract scandal allegations," signed by Njelita Louis, Acting Head, Information, Public Relations and Protocol, claimed that no legally binding contract existed between the university and Abdullahi Hawawo Construction Co. Ltd. because the company failed to accept the offer within seven days.

The management insisted that the company was merely issued an offer letter on October 25, 2024, which required it to formally accept and enter into a contract agreement within seven (7) days—a condition the management claimed the firm failed to fulfill.

"For clarity, an offer letter does not constitute a contract. The letter issued to Abdullahi Hawawo Construction Co. Ltd. explicitly stated that they were required to enter into an agreement with the university. However, they failed to accept the offer within the stipulated timeframe, causing it to lapse," the university stated.

"A letter dated October 28, 2024, requesting a 30% advance payment, was written two days before the contractor even received the offer letter—raising serious questions about the credibility of their claims.

"The university never ignored a valid contract request because no contract ever existed between the parties," the statement noted.

In defence of awarding the same project to a second contractor, the management said, "Following the contractor’s failure to accept the offer and the near-total demolition of the existing fence by scavengers, UNIZIK reassessed its needs and decided to construct a completely new perimeter fence rather than remodel the old one."

The university emphasised that a fresh bidding process was conducted in full compliance with procurement laws, and the contract was subsequently awarded to Dukonni Nigeria Ltd.

"To this effect, a fresh bidding process was conducted in full compliance with procurement laws, and the contract was subsequently awarded to Dukonni Nigeria Ltd. The university emphasised that this was an entirely new contract, not a reassignment of a previous one," it said.

However, the management did not disclose the date the new contract was awarded or when the bidding process took place.

Sources, however, noted that the acting Vice Chancellor will be questioned at the ICPC Zonal Office in Enugu.

Although details of the summons were still sketchy, when SaharaReporters contacted ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, he promised to find out and get back later.

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