Alleged N1.4bn diversion: OAU senate faults acting VC’s invitation by EFCC

The Senate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife has faulted the invitation and interrogation of the institution’s acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Anthony Elujoba, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The condemnation was contained in a resolution obtained by our correspondent after the institution’s Senate meeting, which held on Friday.
The Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, confirmed the resolution when contacted on the telephone on Sunday.
It was gathered that the university senate met on Friday to review and discuss issues relating to the security, peace and order on the university campus.
The senate also treated reports submitted by two task force committees’ set-up to investigate activities of the university’s past administration before the emergence of Prof. Elujoba and other matters.
During the meeting, the resolution specifically stated that members of the senate frowned at the allegations levelled against the acting VC.
It would be recalled that the EFCC is currently investigating a petition alleging the acting VC of the OAU of paying ‘unapproved’ allowances to workers and himself.
When the acting VC appeared on Monday at the EFCC zonal office in Ibadan, workers and students of the university protested against his invitation by the anti-graft agency.
The protesting workers, which consisted all unions on the university campus, insisted that the allowances paid to them was their “legal entitlement.”
They claimed that the allowance, which had stirred several protests and closure of the university, had earlier been approved but not paid ‎by the previous administration.
The resolution read in part: That the payment of N300,000 to the senior and N150,000 to junior staff became necessary in pursuit of the general powers and mandate of the acting VC as the Chief Security Officer on campus to maintain peace, law and order and to prevent loss of lives and property. Moreso, this similar allowance had been paid to staff in other universities under different names and titles.
“That the payment of the said furniture allowance was statutorily approved by the governing council, OAU, at its meeting of May 9 and 10, 2013 without provision for any payment pro-rata.
“That by the appointment of the Acting Vice-Chancellor through a letter reference no. FEM/HE/CH/3C/II/403 by the government, ‘the Acting Vice-Chancellor is entitled to the terms and conditions of this appointment including remuneration and fringe benefits as approved by government for Vice-Chancellors of Federal Universities in Nigeria’, including the said furniture allowance. Hence, the payment was perfectly in order.”
The member of senate subsequently described the ongoing investigation as “misplaced and an embarrassment.”
They also complained that “it was patently an harassment to the senate and the university community, saying “this should be stopped henceforth.”