Former Staff’s Petition, Not Board’s Activities, Reason For EFCC’s Presence At ASUBEB, Says Chairman

The Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), says, the presence of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC), has nothing to do with the Board.

Rather, to look into the petition written by someone (a former staff), alleging fraud of about 6.7 billion naira and awarding of contracts without due process.

The Board was accused of not following due process in awarding contracts from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), by one Online report.

Again, the social media report, alleged that ASUBEB was awarding contracts to politicians and their cronies, leaving out those who bidded for the contracts.

But reacting at the weekend at the ASUBEB office in Awka, the Chairman of the Board, Associate Professor, Vera Nwadinobi, said those allegations were false and unfounded.

She said due process was followed in everything they do, including awarding contracts, adding that EFCC was not investigating the Board, but rather, one person who wanted to hijack ASUBEB by arrogating powers to himself.

Nwadinobi said, “It is not true that contracts were awarded to contractors who did not bid for the jobs. In line with the Public Procurement Act (PPA), we advertised for 2019, 2020, and 2021 and received over 1000 bids for barely 200 jobs.

“All the bids received underwent through technical evaluation and those that were found competent enough were recommended for the next stage of the procurement process which is financial bid opening.

“The financial bid opening was also done publicly after which the most responsive bids were selected for award of contracts.”