Abia Govt Sets Up Probe Panel Over ABSU Allegations

The Abia State Government has approved the constitution of a five-member Special Investigative Committee to probe allegations of harassment, extortion, bribery, and certificate forgery involving some students and lecturers of Abia State University.

This was made known by the Commissioner for Information Prince Okey Kanu on Tuesday following the weekly Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

According to Kanu, the move underscores the administration’s commitment to restoring academic excellence, discipline, transparency, and ethical conduct within the state-owned institution.

The committee will be chaired by Caleb Ajagba, while Dodoh Okafor will serve as secretary. Other members include Chinedu Ekeke, Idowu Eluwa, and Lawrence Idemudia.

The committee is expected to work closely with the university’s Governing Council to identify perpetrators of any misconduct, investigate allegations of bribery and forged certificates against a lecturer, review the implementation of the White Paper on the 2024 Full Investigation Panel, and recommend further actions to the Visitor of the university.

Kanu also disclosed that the 2026 Annual School Census commenced across Abia State on Monday, May 11, and will run for one month across the three senatorial zones. The exercise is aimed at generating reliable educational data for planning, policy formulation, and access to the Hope Education Intervention Grant.

As part of ongoing education reforms, the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board recently organised training and capacity-building programmes for 265 headteachers and 306 Early Childhood Care Development teachers to strengthen school management systems and improve learning outcomes.

In addition, the Abia State Agency for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education has established 140 learning centres across the state to provide educational opportunities for adults and citizens who previously lacked access to formal education.

On environmental sanitation, the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency has commenced full enforcement of waste bin usage in all commercial vehicles operating within the state. The agency said the policy is intended to promote a proper waste disposal culture and sustain the state’s cleanliness campaign.

The government also announced progress in infrastructure development, revealing that three out of 29 road projects under contract have been completed and are awaiting commissioning. The projects include the Umuogo-Nsukwe Ring Road, the dualisation of the Onuimo Bridge–Abia Tower Road, and the reconstruction of the Nunya–Eluama Road.

Additionally, five out of 51 Direct Labour road projects have been completed, including maintenance works on failed sections of the Osisioma Flyover, the Port Harcourt–Enugu Expressway leading to Ugwunagbo LGA Secretariat, asphalt overlay on Adaelu Road in Aba, the construction of Oberete-Umuopara Road in Obingwa LGA, and the Geometric Power to Guineas Junction Road in Aba.

The Executive Council further expressed satisfaction with Governor Otti’s recent visit to the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Matthew Verghis, in Abuja, describing it as an opportunity to deepen development partnerships across critical sectors of the state economy.

Speaking during the briefing, the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Ngozi Felix, said the state would continue discussions with the World Bank to maximise developmental programmes and interventions in sectors such as energy, education, agriculture, and ICT.

Kanu also announced that the Abia State Government will host His Royal M‌aje‍sty, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha on Friday, May 15, 2026, in celebration of the monarch’s 85th birthday anniversary. He said the event reflects the administration’s commitment to promoting exemplary leadership, integrity, and ethical values in society.