UNICAL Dean indicted by ICPC over N20.6m fraud

The Dean and Director of pre-degree programs at the University of Calabar, Prof. Francisca Ime Bassey has been arraigned before the Cross River State High Court Six by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), over her alleged involvement in a contract fraud of N20.6 million.

In a ten-count charge filed by the agency against the Dean, the ICPC alleged that the professor had personal interests in multiple contracts awarded by the school to four companies directly owned by her. The crime reportedly 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 totaling N20,679,324.63 awarded to Bakuf Ventures, Rivet Investment Nigeria Ltd, Joebas Enterprises, and Arumo Nigeria Ltd. She was further accused of using two of her companies, Joebas Enterprises and Aruma Nigeria Ltd to commit multiple contract frauds.

The case has been adjourned to October 11 and 12, 2021 for trial after the presiding Judge, Justice Elias O. Abua granted her a bail in the sum of N5 million with one surety in like sum.