FRAUD: Management Queries UNICAL Director Over Alleged Financial Irregularities
By Missang AKPET
The management of the University of Calabar has queried one Mr. Paul Agbor who is the director management staff services in the bursary department of the institution for alleged abuse of office, forgery and infiltration of ghost workers into the University payroll.
In a letter signed by the registrar of the institution Mr. Gabriel Egbe made available to THE BEAGLE NEWS, Mr. Agbor was accused of infiltrating the school payroll with names of individuals that have no employment record with the University of Calabar.
The letter read in parts: "The reports indicate that you surreptitiously injected the names of your son Agbo Matthew Otu into the payroll and placed him on CONTISS 13/4 as chief accountant from November 2023.
"You were also said to have payrolled your sister Miss Agbor Veronica Bara a retired teacher and placed her on CONTISS 14/9 with effect from November 2023 to June 2024 with no clear designation which gives her advantage of drawing salaries amounting to N4,083,557.22.
"That you abused the privilege of your office by giving your wife Cecilia Jabe Agbor undue financial advantage through incessant increment in salary steps.
"That you forged the Vice Chancellor's signature on a Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) application which you submitted to TETFUND office and Used the Vice Chancellor's letter head to generate an approval letter of sponsorship for an overseas training in favour of yourself and four of your relations and cronies.
"As an accountant in an institution like the University you should have known very well the implications of your actions especially against the backdrop of the provisions of the University's financial regulations".
Mr. Agbor was however given 48 hours by the management to respond to the allegations and why disciplinary actions should not be taken against him.
Investigations by THE BEAGLE NEWS revealed that Mr. Agbor would have been relieved of his position a few months back over his alleged financial malfeasance by the management but due to intervention by some top officers and politicians.
University source hinted that when Agbor got wind of moves by the Vice Chancellor to relieve him of his position and transfer him to another unit, Agbor discreetly mobilised his Ntemnate kinsmen including paramount rulers from his Ntemante community to beg the VC on his behalf.
At the meeting the VC was said to have expressed dismay at the conduct of Agbor who she had lot of confidence to deliver on mandate.
It was further learnt that even reprieve was given to Agbor, he was still fighting the bursary, Mr. John Odom, discreetly.
The fight against Bursary got to the climax, leading to a series of petitions against Agbor. And based on that, the VC set up a panel led by Prof. S.O Abang with VC administration and a few others as members.
The panel in their report indicted Agbor leading to the issuing of a query by the VC to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him.
