ICPC arraigns University of Calabar dean over N20.6m fraud

Prof. Francisca Ime Bassey, a University of Calabar dean, has been arraigned before Cross River State High Court Six by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), over her alleged involvement in a contract fraud of 20.6 million naira.

The agency accused Prof. Bassey, who is the Dean and Director of the Pre-Degree Programme of the University of allegedly holding private interests in multiple contracts awarded by the school to four companies directly owned by her.

According to ICPC in the 10 counts filed before Justice Elias O. Abua on Wednesday, August 18, the alleged crime happened between 2013 and 2017 and violated Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Prof. Bassey at different times was alleged to have benefited from a series of contracts totalling 20,679,324.63 awarded to Bakuf Ventures, Rivet Investment Nigeria Ltd, Joebas Enterprises, and Arumo Nigeria Ltd.

The contracts amounting to 7,819,916.24 were allegedly awarded to Bakuf Ventures on four occasions between 2013 and 2017.

The institution also awarded contracts worth N4.7 million to Rivet Investment Nigeria Ltd between 2013 and 2015.

The dean was further accused of using two of her companies, Joebas Enterprises and Arumo Nigeria Ltd to commit multiple contract frauds.

Prof. Bassey who is also being accused of benefitted from N5,736,797.84 worth of contracts awarded to Arumo Nigeria Ltd and N2,450,700 awarded to Joebas Enterprises within the same period entered a not-guilty plea when the charge was read to her.

Her counsel, Barrister Joseph Oloku filed a bail application praying the court to admit her to bail on self-recognizance.

This was however opposed by counsel to the ICPC, Kioba Kio Anabraba, who stated that the bail should be granted if only it will make her attend her trials.

Justice Elias O. Abua subsequently granted her bail in the sum of 5 million with one surety in like sum. The surety must have landed property within the jurisdiction of the court. The matter was then adjourned to October 11 and 12, 2021 for trial.