…Calls on National President to question The Chairperson, Vice Chairman and PRO over sales of the Branch Union Sienna without the Consent of the Congress.
Wednesday 7th August, 2024.
Awka- The Branch Treasure of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities, Nnamdi Azikiwe Branch has petitioned the National President of SSANU, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim over alleged Misappropriation and embezzlement of Over N163 Million Naira belonging to SSANU Unizik Branch against the Chairperson of the Union Branch, Comrade Dr Njideka Nwangwu.
In the petition dated June 21st June, 2024, addressed National President of SSANU and copied the Vice- Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, to which was received by the Offices and obtained by our correspondent in Awka, The branch Treasurer of the Union, Comrade Mrs. Chukwudi Anthonia alleged that the branch Chairperson of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Comrade Mrs. Nwangwu Njideka and the Vice Chairman, Comrade Uche Okafor of always placing her under duress to sign cheques for unapproved withdrawals of the Union’s funds running into millions of naira and of unethical conduct, abuse of office and fraud.
According to Comrade Anthonia Chukwudi, Some of the monies in question were moved into a specific Company’s account by name Theolas Impex Investment Company Limited domiciled with Zenith bank plc where the Chairperson, Comrade Nwangwu Njideka and one Mr. Chidiebe Ugochukwu Theophilus (a.k.a Anakuluoji) are co-signatories.
The above company in question according to the petitioner was imposed on the Congress by the Chairperson and her vice as the Company that bid and won contract for the completion of the abandoned branch Secretariat complex without any known Due Process.
According to the Treasurer of the Union, trouble began when the Chairperson began to manipulate and coarse her to move millions of naira into other personal accounts other than Theolas Impex without due process and without the knowledge of Congress and Executive, an action which put the Treasurer on her toes and which led to further investigation and inquiry on her own, where it was discovered that the Chairperson has interests in all those accounts especially that of Theolas Impex where she is a co-signatory and where millions of the Union’s finances had been illegally transferred under the guise of completion of The Branch Secretariat building.
Our correspondence gathered from the petition and from the interview granted to some members of the union that everything about the secretariat building was shrouded in secrecy, there was no committee handling or supervising the project except the Chairperson, Comrade Nwangwu Njideka and the Vice Chairman, Comrade Uche Okafor and few others.
Another disturbing fact in the petition has to do with the allegation leveled against one Mr. Emeka Johnpaul Ejiofor whom the Chairperson had introduced to the Branch Executive Committee in their meeting sometime in September, 2023 as the CEO of Theolas Impex Investment Company Nigeria Limited and Mr. Chidiebe Ugochukwu Theophilus as the Manager.
According to the petitioner, SSANU Unizik secretariat Project began in 2018 under direct labour arrangement supervised by Architect Paul Okafor, a Member of congress. The project later stopped due to paucity of fund. Later on, The Chairperson (Comrade Dr. Nwangwu Njideka) in one of their Branch Executive Meetings(BEC) muted the idea of continuation of work at the secretariat building and requested that we are looking for a benefactor who will build the Secretariat for SSANU Unizik as a gift or build, operate and transfer (BOT). That anybody who gets a Benefactor or sponsor will collect 5% of the Total Sum.
However, SSANU Unizik later in July 2023, through the contact of the Branch Chairperson engage Theolas Impex Investment company to complete the secretariat building at the cost of about #163,000,000 (one hundred and Sixty- three million Naira) with 20% interest inclusive on a Payment plan of #500,000.00 (five hundred thousand Naira) monthly, additional funds can be paid if available.
The draft MOU was read to BEC, it was requested that the CEO of the Theolas Impex Investment company appear before the BEC. BEC interacted with them and some modifications were made for onward presentation to the congress, Zone and National Body for final approval and documentation. (I Am not aware if this process was concluded at the
National level before payment and work commenced at the site). The MOU was read to Congress members and approval was given to BEC to Continue Further discussion with the company and come up with workable modality.
According to the Branch Treasurer in the Petition, from her observations, There was no congress Committee handling the Secretariat Project.
2.Payment of 500,000.00 (five hundred thousand naira monthly) to Theolas Impex
investment company account domiciled with Zenith Bank (1228953945) commenced on
the 6th September, 2023 till date. That On the 31/01/2024, 20/03/2024 and 28/05/2024 due to availability of fund, Theolas Impex Investments Company’s Account with Zenith Bank 1228953945 was credited with #2million, #3.5million and #1.8millon respectively for the secretariat buildings.
According to her, “Surprisingly, before the last payment into the Theolas Impex company’s account, precisely on the 23/04/2024 the Chairperson directed and compelled me to transfer #3,845,000.00 Million Naira to one Sunday Nnebe with Zenith bank account number-1007024507 for the purchase of 500 bags of cement. I advised that the money should be paid into the contractor’s Account but she refused. I called the attention of the Branch Vice chairman (Comrade Okafor Uche). He supported that the money should be transferred but I tried to make them understand that it is better we go with the already existing MOU. They refused and compelled me to move the money. so I did on a condition that the contractor or the site
manager must acknowledge the receipt of 500 bags of cement.”
“The next day being 24/4/2024, I approached the site Manager Chidiebe Ugochukwu Theophilus acknowledged the receipt but he vehemently refused, got angry, abused me
and said he knew nothing about what I was saying.”
“Some days later, the site manager Chidiebe Ugochukwu Theoplius approached the chairperson and the story changed. BEC meeting was conveyed and 70% of the BEC support the Chairperson, criticizing my actions thus that I shouldn’t have approached the Site Manager but I stood my ground that if we must buy any thing that the site Manager needs, he must acknowledge it for easy accountability (checks and balance) but the majority overruled my opinion.”
In her petition, she said On the 21/05/2024 #5,508,000.00 Million was transferred to Sunday Nnebe again while #3,600,000.00 Million was transferred to Domnic Ezeuduji (FCMB19778790110) on 23/05/2024. On the 11/06/2024, #10,540,000.00 was transferred to Sunday Nnebe again. At this Point, I couldn’t bear it again thus the need for this petition. And to prove her stand, Photocopies of all the above Transaction are attached.
According to her, A copy of CAC certified true copy of Theolas Impex investment company LTD obtained showed that Engr. Ejiofor Johnpaul Emeka who was presented to the BEC as The CEO of the company did not have his name in the companys record either as a
director, board member or shareholder rather Mr Chidiebe Ugochukwu Theophilus
(Anaclogy) and three others were the directors (see attached).
Also, from her inquiry, Comrade Dr. Nwangwu Njideka, the Chairperson SSANU Unizik and Chidiebe Ugochukwu T. were the two signatories to Theolas Impex investment company’s Account domiciled with Zenith bank-1228953945 where millions of money for the supposed secretariat building were being paid. How can the Chairperson be moving Union’s money into a company’s account where she is a cosignatory, this is highly unethical, Comrade Antonia queried in her petition.
The chairperson and Vice chairman knew from Adam that Engr. Ejiofor Johnpaul Emeka was an impersonator.
Also, Old SSANU Unizik vehicle was sold without the consent of the Executive nor Union Congress. She connived with the Branch PRO Comrade Confidence Okafor and Vice Chairman Comrade Okafor Uche to sell the former Union Sienna Car without the approval of Congress or through a competitive bidding process in line with public service rule. The Chairperson and Vice Chairman, bluntly told me that my minority opinion at BEC meeting doesn’t matter on the issue of how the vehicle will be sold, in fact the Vice Chairman specifically said that the
Chairperson has veto power and can use such powers.
In final her request in the petition,I humbly request the National President and NAC as a matter of urgency set up a strong committee from NAC and NEC in order to save SSANU Unizik from collapse and prolonged debt. She also pleaded that The National President should as a matter of urgency direct that SSANU Unizik account domiciled with Zenithbank 1014728791and Firstbank- 2015540573 be frozen pending when investigation is concluded. Only credit should be allowed.
She also sought the help of the National President for the Chairperson, Vice Chairman and PRO of SSANU Unizik be questioned about the Old union sienna vehicle that they sold without the approval of Congress members and Due process. She pleased for the account of the branch to be audited by independent body.
Our correspondent further gathered that some members of the branch Executive Committee apart from the Treasurer, the Ex-officio, the Trustee and the Secretary often throw their weight behind the Chairperson in her numerous impunities for pecuniary gains.
As at the time of filling this report, attempt to reach the University Acting Vice Chancellor and SSANU National President over the allegations proved abortive as they were very busy with some administrative issues.
Our correspondent also tried to Reach Comrade Taiwo Egberengbo, who is The National Ex-offcicio, Comrade Uche Okafor, SSANU Branch Vice Chairman, Comrade Njelita Louis , Branch Ex-offcicio but they did not want to speak to our Correspondent having introduced himself and the issue at hand.
Attempt to speak with SSANU Branch Secretary, Comrade Boniface Ozo Nkwuaku proved abortive as he was said to have travelled outside the Country on Medical Grounds for some months now.
One of the National Officers of SSANU told our Correspondent that The National President has received the petition and will soon present it to the National Administrative Committee, and to National Executive Council when the need arises. He said that the issues in the petition are very serious issues that cannot be allowed to die like that.
Attached are the Copies of the Petition:
Attached is the Copies of the Petition:
