Five-member investigative panel set up to examine allegations involving lecturers and students at Abia State University.
By Chijioke Udenta – UMUAHIA — May 12, 2026
The Abia State Government has inaugurated a five-member Special Investigative Committee to probe allegations of harassment, extortion, bribery, and certificate forgery involving staff and students of Abia State University.
The development was announced on Monday by the Abia State Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, following the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti in Umuahia.
Government Moves to Restore Academic Standards
Kanu said the committee was constituted to uphold ethical conduct and strengthen academic integrity within the institution.
According to him, the panel will investigate reported cases of harassment and extortion allegedly involving lecturers and students of the university.
The committee is chaired by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, while the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr. Dodoh Okafor, will serve as secretary.
Other members include Mr. Chinedu Ekeke, Professor Idowu Eluwa, and Professor Lawrence Idemudua.
Allegations of Bribery, Forged Certificates Under Investigation
The commissioner disclosed that the panel’s mandate includes identifying perpetrators and making recommendations to the Visitor to the university.
He stated that the committee would also investigate allegations of bribery against a lecturer, alongside claims of forged academic certificates linked to the same individual.
According to Kanu, the panel is expected to determine the extent to which recommendations contained in the 2024 university investigation white paper have been implemented.
The committee will also identify gaps in implementation and recommend further reforms where necessary.
Committee to Work With Governing Council
The Abia State Government said the investigative panel would work closely with the university’s governing council in carrying out its assignment.
Authorities described the exercise as part of broader efforts to reposition Abia State University as a centre of excellence in teaching, research, and ethical academic practices.
The government has recently intensified oversight measures in public institutions as part of ongoing reforms under the current administration.
Abia Begins 2026 School Census
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Information also announced the commencement of the 2026 Annual School Census across Abia State.
Kanu said the exercise began on Monday and is expected to run for one month across the state’s three senatorial zones.
According to him, the census is aimed at generating reliable educational data to support planning, policy formulation, and access to the Hope Education Intervention Grant.
“The exercise is designed to provide the State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education reliable data for planning, policy formulation, and full access into the Hope Education Intervention Grant,” he stated.
The establishment of the investigative committee signals the Abia State Government’s determination to address allegations of misconduct within its tertiary institutions and strengthen accountability in the education sector.
Stakeholders are expected to closely monitor the outcome of the investigation as the government pushes broader reforms aimed at restoring confidence in public education institutions across the state.
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