The Provost of the Federal College of Education (FCE) Obudu, in Cross River State, Dr. James Ejue has been sacked by the Governing Council of the College.
The Council on December 15, 2017 recommended the provost for a three-month suspension from January 1 to March 31, 2018 for alleged theft of N125 million from the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System, GIFMIS, salary account of the college.
The decision came after reports of the alleged misuse of NGN125 million in the school which led to the suspension of the Bursar of the college, Ushie Sixtus. GIFMIS is an IT-based system for budget management and accounting that is being used by the federal government to improve public expenditure management processes, and enhance greater accountability and transparency across its ministries and agencies.
DAILY POST was informed that the process was designed to help the government plan and use its financial resources more efficiently and effectively.
According to the letter that recommended the suspension, signed by chairman of the governing council, Anthony Obi, the provost was asked to refund N25 million within a three month deadline, not exceeding March 2018, despite having been accused of misusing NGN125 million.
The letter directed the Provost to hand over to the college Deputy Provost, Mecha Kalu Uduma.
“The Provost should hand over the college to the Deputy Provost, Mecha Kalu Uduma. Governing Council graciously invites the honorable Minister to approve council’s recommendation to restore sanity in the College”, it read.
However, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal College of Education Obudu, Anthony Obi, when contacted said that the suspension of the Provost, Dr. James Ejue was not for public consumption.
He said that, “the information is not for public consumption.”
“It is still under investigation, as long as the council is concerned. We have not made anything public,” Mr. Obi said.
Meanwhile, a source in the College who requested anonymity for fear of victimization said the Provost was recommended for suspension based on alleged misappropriation of funds in connivance with the Bursar of the College, Ushie Sixtus, who has been on suspension since September 29, 2017.
According to the source, the governing council has ascertained that the duo embezzled the ’employee contribution scheme’ funds which is more or less the workers pension savings.
“There is foul play in the decision of the governing council; they’ve been bribed. The correct verdict for the Provost and the Bursar after refunding the money should be prosecution but the council only asked them to return the money and go on three month suspension,” the source said.
The source added that the allegation leveled against the two is, “corruption, embezzlement, misappropriation, advance fee fraud and actions prejudicial to the security of the state.”
The source also claimed that the provost and some of the council members were in Abuja last week to lobby the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, not to grant the approval of recommendation for suspension.
Efforts to reach Mr Ejue were unsuccessful as he did not answer calls or respond to text messages sent to him.
The Bursar, who also declined commenting on telephone, however, said he was yet to get any notification.
“I have not gotten any letter to the effect that my suspension has been extended by the governing council,” he said.
Magdalene Okoko, the Registrar of FCE Obudu, who is also the Secretary to the Governing Council, said on Friday night “If you are asking me anything about FCE Obudu, I will not answer you, I don’t have any authority to speak or give you information regarding FCE Obudu.
“I told you the last time you called me. I don’t care about what you write. Contact the PRO of the institution.”
Justin Egba, the spokesperson of the College, acknowledged that the case was under investigation by the Governing Council.
Egba told DAILY POST on phone that nothing much was happening ever since the Provost was suspended as the College was waiting for outcome of the committee set up by the Governing Council to unravel the alleged embezzlement.
“The Governing Council has just set up a committee to look into the College’s records and it is when the council committee comes out with the report that we will know the next line of action.
“The Committee may take two weeks, may take one month, they need to do thorough work. But in the interim, the Provost is under suspension to give way for investigations”, he stated.
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