The Ambrose Alli University (AAU) special intervention team set up by Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State to reposition the institution has unraveled a N2 billion-tax fraud and other corrupt practices by the management and staff of the university.
The team, headed by the Managing Director of Schlumberger Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Andrew Olotu, while presenting its interim report, alleged massive certificate and transcript racketeering and called for urgent government intervention.
Presenting the report on behalf of other members of the team, Mr. Austin Osakue, said the state government is owed over N2 billion from the tax that was never paid. He alleged that AAU receives more salaries compared to University of Benin (UNIBEN) staff and they never pay taxes.
“All the Internally Generated Revenues (IGRs) and school fees collected were not accounted for and all the money entered private pockets instead of the school purse. We have been able to check this excess and now are able to collect N32 million in taxes for the Edo State Government.
“One of the biggest problems in AAU is overhead spending on diesel. Following the bad electricity situation in Ekpoma, staff are cashing in on the situation to steal money from the treasury,” he said. The team disclosed that the issue of certificates and transcripts is a big business in AAU and has given the university a bad image.
“Government has directed the university to key into the contributory pension scheme and the staff of the institution refused to key in. We are working to see how to get the workers into the scheme.”
A representative of civil society organisations in Edo State, Mr. Omobude Agho, commended the team for a great job, urging the governor to commence investigation and prosecution of those involved in the fraud in the state-owned institution.
He said: “We observed that there is this ethnic right of ownership of AAU. Some people think it’s a gift presented to them by the late Ambrose Alli, but it is not so. The University belongs to Edo people and not to certain people.”
Obaseki, while receiving the report, commended the team for its service to the state, noting that the greatest legacy for the late founder is to restore the university’s lost glory.
“Your submitted report showed that there is a criminal aspect so far. We don’t have to wait for a full report. That is why I invited the security agencies to commence action and investigate the criminal aspect of your findings.”
