A legal practitioner, Nurat Usman, has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), calling for a comprehensive investigation into alleged financial irregularities, procurement violations and accountability concerns during the tenure of former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Professor Zana Akpagu, between 2015 and 2020.
The petition, dated September 18, 2026, and addressed to the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, was acknowledged by the anti-graft agency on September 22, 2026.
A copy of the acknowledged petition was made available to journalists on Friday in Abuja.
In the petition, Usman explained that the request for investigation was informed by issues reportedly highlighted in the Presidential Visitation Panel Report and the Federal Government White Paper covering the university’s activities between 2016 and 2020.
According to the legal practitioner, the documents raised serious concerns regarding procurement procedures, alleged contract splitting, compliance with due process requirements and the execution of several projects funded through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the Needs Assessment intervention programme.
Usman alleged that several projects initiated during the period remained uncompleted despite the allocation of public funds, raising questions about financial management, contract execution and institutional accountability.
The lawyer consequently urged the EFCC to undertake a comprehensive forensic audit of the university’s financial transactions and procurement activities throughout Akpagu’s tenure, with particular attention to TETFund interventions, Needs Assessment projects and other capital expenditures.
The petition further called on the commission to investigate contractors and companies alleged to have received substantial payments for projects executed or awarded within the period under review.
Usman maintained that an independent and thorough investigation would help establish the facts surrounding the allegations, determine whether public procurement regulations were violated and identify any individuals or corporate entities found culpable.
The legal practitioner stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in the management of public resources, particularly funds earmarked for infrastructural development and improved learning conditions in tertiary institutions.
The petition urged the anti-graft agency to exercise its statutory investigative powers to ascertain the propriety or otherwise of the transactions identified in the visitation panel’s findings.
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