A Professor in the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Francisca Bassey was on Wednesday arraigned before Justice Elias Abua at the Cross River State High Court six by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for alleged involvement in a N20.6 million contract fraud.

Bassey, Dean and Director of the Pre-Degree Programme of the university was said to have had private interests in multiple contracts awarded by the school to four companies owned by her.

The commission, in a 10-count filed before Justice Abua, noted that the alleged crime occurred between 2013 and 2017, in violation of section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

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In a statement issued on Wednesday, by Mrs Azuka Ogugua, spokesperson of ICPC, revealed that Bassey at different times benefited from a series of contracts totalling N20,679,324.63 awarded to Bakuf Ventures, Rivet Investment Nigeria Ltd., Joebas Enterprises and Arumo Nigeria Ltd.

It was discovered that contracts amounting to N7,819,916.24 was allegedly awarded to Bakuf Ventures on four occasions between 2013 and 2017 while other contracts worth N4.7 million were awarded to Rivet Investment Nigeria Ltd between 2013 and 2015 by the institution.

The dean further used two of her companies; Joebas Enterprises and Arumo Nigeria Ltd to commit multiple contract fraud.

According to the commission, Bassey benefitted from N5,736,797.84 contracts awarded to Arumo Nigeria Ltd and N2,450,700 awarded to Joebas Enterprises within the same period.

“The accused entered a not guilty plea when the charge was read to her, as her counsel, Joseph Oloku, filed a bail application praying the court to admit her to bail on self-recognizance.

“The bail was opposed by counsel to ICPC, Kioba Anabraba, who prayed the court to grant her bail on terms that would make her attend her trial,” the statement read.

The presiding judge granted her bail in the sum of N5m with one surety in like sum, adding that the surety must have landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

The matter was adjourned to October 11, 2021 and 12, 2021 for trial.

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