OAU VC, Bursar Land In EFCC Mess Over Alleged N1.4bn Fraud

The acting Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Anthony Elujoba, alongside the institution’s bursar, Aderonke Akeredolu, have landed themselves into trouble for allegedly diverting the university’s N1.4 billion.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), during its investigations, gathered that Mr Elujoba, whose monthly furniture allowance was put N120, 000, had already received about N7 million allowances in just six months of his appointment as acting vice-chancellor.

The duo are said to be on the radar of the EFCC for prosecution after the anti-graft agency learned that Mr. Elujoba had already received the said sum as advance payment for his five-year tenure.

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The university’s spokesman, Biodun Olanrewaju, while defending the vice-chancellor, said that Mr Elujoba couldn’t have been involved in the alleged fraud, arguing that the bursar should be held accountable for any financial mismanagement.

“It is the bursar that is in charge of money, not the acting Vice-Chancellor. This is a man who does not even collect hospitality allowances or security vote as collected by other vice-chancellors,” Mr. Olanrewaju told Premium Times.

“As acting vice-chancellor, he does the same work as any vice chancellor. Forget about the title, he coordinates the affairs of the university just like a substantive vice-chancellor,” he added.

“You could see how all union members of the university stormed the Iyaganku office of EFCC in Ibadan to rally round him. That was to show that the man did not steal or embezzle as alleged,” Mr. Olanrewaju stated.

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