The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has received a petition against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku Federal Constituency seat in the 2027 election, Prof. Zana Itiunbe Akpagu, over alleged financial, procurement and accountability infractions during his tenure as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar (UNICAL).

Akpagu, who served as UNICAL vice-chancellor between 2015 and 2020, is accused in the petition of alleged irregularities in contract awards, project execution and management of public funds during his administration.

The petition, filed by Law & Order Attorneys on behalf of unnamed clients, was formally received by the anti-graft agency on September 22, 2026, according to an EFCC petition receipt made available to journalists in Abuja on Friday.

The receipt, with petition number EFCC/PET/HQR 3843/2026, shows that the complaint was received at the commission’s Abuja headquarters at 1:00pm on Tuesday.

In the petition dated September 18 and addressed to EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, the Principal Partner of Law & Order Attorneys, Nurat Ileigo Usman, urged the commission to investigate alleged financial and procurement irregularities during Akpagu’s tenure.

The petitioners based their request partly on issues they said were contained in the Presidential Visitation Panel Report and Federal Government White Paper concerning the university for the 2016-2020 period.

According to the petition, the visitation findings raised concerns over compliance with public procurement requirements, financial controls, project execution and accountability for funds entrusted to the university.

Usman alleged that the report raised questions over the award and execution of contracts during the period, including alleged contract splitting and non-compliance with applicable due-process requirements.

The petition also drew attention to several uncompleted Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and NEEDS Assessment projects, asking the EFCC to establish how funds allocated for the projects were utilised.
The lawyer urged the commission to obtain and examine all procurement records covering the period, as well as the complete Presidential Visitation Panel Report and the Federal Government’s White Paper on the university.

She also requested a comprehensive forensic financial and technical audit of TETFund, NEEDS Assessment and other externally or internally funded projects executed during Akpagu’s administration.

The petition further asked the EFCC to investigate the identities and beneficial ownership of companies and contractors that received substantial payments from the university during the period under review.

The petitioners said their concerns were prompted by what they described as “weighty allegations” concerning the use of public funds which, they claimed, had not been subjected to adequate investigation by law enforcement authorities.

They urged the EFCC to independently verify the allegations through documentary examination, financial analysis and physical inspection of projects.

“The University of Calabar is a federal institution whose resources are held in trust for the Nigerian public,” the petition stated, adding that a thorough investigation would determine the propriety or otherwise of the allegations.

The petitioners also said they were prepared to provide the EFCC with additional documents or information in their possession that could assist the commission’s investigation.

Akpagu is currently the PDP candidate for the Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku Federal Constituency in the 2027 House of Representatives election.

There was, however, no indication in the documents made available that the EFCC had commenced a formal investigation or reached any finding of wrongdoing against the former vice-chancellor.

The allegations contained in the petition remain claims requiring investigation and verification by the appropriate authourities.