ICPC Invades FUTO

Professor Celestine Onwuliri, Vice Chancellor, FUTO

Operatives of the anti-corruption agency, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), look-in at the Federal University of Technology (FUTO), Owerri following a petition sent to it

By Eugenia Okpara , Owerri

Uneasy calm now pervade the Federal University of Technology, Owerri [FUTO], following the picking up penultimate week of some principal officers of the institution by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission [ICPC]. The Source reliably gathered that the former Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Benjamin A Nwachukwu, who handed over the reins of power to the newly appointed substantive Vice Chancellor, Professor Celestine Onwuliri on June 19, 2006, the University Bursar, Robinson Akujiobi, the Director of Physical Planning, Okoro and among Director of Estate and Works, Akin Orumunyi, an engineer, were the principal officers allegedly picked up by the ICPC for questioning.

Information available to The Source revealed that the principal officers were questioned and released while investigation continues. Further findings by The Source revealed that the invasion of the University by operatives of the Commission was not unconnected with a petition allegedly written by one Professor Cas Uche– who claimed to be a staff of the institution– alleging extreme shoddy deals in the award of contracts in the last one year. A very reliable inside source that does not want his name in print, confirmed the invasion of the University by ICPC operatives. He also confirmed that the affected officers were asked to furnish the ICPC with relevant documents relating to specific contracts done in the school. “I can confirm that in the past week, those invited by ICPC were busy making photocopies of documents and making same available to ICPC. It is not, however, clear what will be the next step of the Commission”, the man said. The Source, however, learnt that the petitioner, is not a staff of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri as no staffer of the institution bears such name. People are therefore wondering if the “serious allegations” can be substantiated if the petitioner prefers to remain anonymous. Several efforts made to get the Vice Chancellor, Professor Onwuliri or the institution's image maker, Adaeze Okany, before going to press failed but the same source disclosed that there is no lecturer or non-tutorial staff of the institution that bears the name Professor Cas Uche. “I can tell you that there is no such name in FUTO. It is equally not clear what the writer of the petition wants to achieve in the crusade. All the officers invited by ICPC have all come back and are very busy doing their official duties in FUTO”, the official explained.

In another development, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Onwuliri has challenged the School of Agriculture and Agriculture Technology {SAAT], to generate at least 50 per cent of the internally generated revenue required by the University. Professor Onwuliri pointed out that the School possess the intellectual capacity and expertise for the development of Fishery, Cassava and Plantain production. According to him, transforming SAAT into a centre of excellence as well as a major revenue earner for the institution is a top priority of his administration. The FUTO VC tasked them to initiate a productive agriculture farm in the University that would be showcased to the national and international research and development agencies, as in his words, “SAAT can become the centre of research for agro-related crops at least in the South east geo-political zone if we put more efforts in the development of cash crops like cassava, plantain and cocoyam”.

On the problem of inadequate infrastructure such as office accommodation, furniture and most importantly, lack of regular power supply to the school which has seriously hampered its productive capacity, Onwuliri assured the unit that in conjunction with the Governing Council of the University, all the problems would be addressed. Regarding the polarisation of the institution, occasioned by the rejection of the alleged candidate of the school by the Federal Government in the appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor, Onwuliri promised that he would do everything humanly possible to reconcile members of the University community.” His words: “I will do everything humanly possible to reconcile all members of the University community so that we will together, collectively and assiduously move FUTO forward. To the host communities, he pledged “a better relationship”. Reiterating that he would toe the line of reform and sustained development, Onwuliri challenged the academic staff of the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology {SEET}, to reproduce themselves in their students. The Vice Chancellor, urging them to generate more funds through adaptation and fabrication of equipment as well as pass their talent to their products, said that a new school of Environmental Technology would be established. “I will stop at nothing in making the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology [SEET] an acclaimed centre of excellence particularly as there will not be any FUTO without SEET,” he reassured.