Ijegbai provides covers for fraud at AAU-ex-pro Chancellor, Omokhodion

By DADA AYOKHAI 

The former pro Chancellor and Chairman of the dissolved  Governing Council of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Chief Sir Lawrence Omokhodion has alleged  that  Barrister Jimoh Ijegbai, as then Commissioner for Education, was  the  arrow head of Edo State Government officials who provided shield for corruption machinery  at the state owned university.

The allegation was made in his statement, titled, "My stewardship at AAU, Ekpoma as the pro Chancellor and Chairman of the institution Governing Council.

According to the former chairman of the dissolved Council, writing under the banner of avoidable and worrisome developments, said Barr Ijegbai  was appointed as the Commissioner for Education in August 2019 .     

He said that the former commissioner first assignment at AAU was to frustrate the alleged corruption charges levied against the Vice chancellor being investigated by the council.


"He was unhappy with the allegations leveled against the Vice Chancellor and based on that, attempted to suspend Council on August 16, 2019 but was overruled by the Secretary to the Edo State Government", Omokhodion said.


Sir Omokhodion stressed that, Barr. Ijegbai who was recently appointed as deputy chief of staff to the Edo state deputy governor  also in a letter of March 11, 2020,  again tried to overturn the decisions taken by the Council after its four days meeting of February 18-21, 2020 by allegedly issuing a query to the Council's Chairman.

"However, it was clear that Council's investigations of the VC were the catalyst for the strange behaviour of the Education Commissioner.

" The VC had secured the support of top government officials who promised to protect him."

Omokhodion further alleged that Ijegbai in his capacity as the then   Commissioner for Education and the VC were particularly disturbed about the independent internal auditor chosen by the Council to audit the 2019 AAU accounts.

He said ironically, it was the Edo State Governor that gave the Council the mandate to investigate the petition against the Vice Chancellor .
 
He noted that in order to shield and conceal the fraud in the institution, the Commissioner further ordered the stop of the Council's meeting of June 30, 2020 simply because the June 29 meeting found the VC guilty of the corruption allegations just as he accused him of illegally deferred the Council and halted its meetings until after the governoship election in September 19, 2020.


While giving himself a pat on the back, said corruption fought back in the institution but he didn't allow himself to be personally involved in contract executions.

"In summary, corruption fought back and defeated the AAU Council.

" The VC bought support from his collaborators in government to dissolve the Council to bury the investigation report.

"What is pleasing to me is the fact that my insistence on probity and leading by example prevented me from getting personally involved in contract execution", he said.

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