EFCC, ICPC URGED TO PROBE N296.4M IMO STATE FUNDS ALLEGEDLY SPENT ON CBT CENTRE AT PRIVATE UNIVERSITY
Civil society organisation Tracka has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the construction and equipping of a N296.4 million Information and Communication Technology/Computer-Based Test (ICT/CBT) Centre at Claretian University in Imo State.
According to Tracka, the project was funded with N296.4 million in public funds under a constituency project facilitated by Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi, representing Imo East Senatorial District. The centre, which was equipped with 40 HP laptops, was commissioned in November 2025 at Claretian University, a private institution.
Tracka questioned the decision to use public funds to provide infrastructure within a private university, particularly at a time when several public schools, health facilities and roads across Imo State are reportedly facing serious infrastructure and service-delivery challenges. The organisation said the project raises important concerns about how public resources are being deployed and whether the spending was in the public interest.
The group urged the EFCC and ICPC to thoroughly investigate the project, including its procurement process, source of funding, contract award, implementation and beneficiaries. It also asked the agencies to establish the justification for locating a publicly funded facility inside a private university and determine whether the project complied with relevant procurement and constituency-project guidelines.
STREET NEWS REPORTERS’ checks on the public payments portal, Govspend, reportedly confirmed the N296.4 million payment highlighted by Tracka.
Tracka stressed that its concerns were focused on transparency, accountability and the proper use of public funds, insisting that government resources must be spent openly and for the benefit of the public. The organisation called on the relevant authorities to provide clarity on how the project was approved, awarded and implemented.
