Abia Govt Probes Harassment, Extortion Claims at ABSU

The Abia State government has set up a special committee to look into claims of harassment, extortion, and other misconduct at Abia State University, Uturu, according to The Guardian.

The decision came on Monday, May 11, 2026, during the weekly meeting of the State Executive Council. Officials said the move is part of efforts to protect students and maintain discipline and integrity in the school.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, said the five member panel will be led by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Dr. Caleb Ajagba. Mr. Dodoh Okafor, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, will serve as secretary. Other members are Mr. Chinedu Ekeke, Professor Idowu Eluwa, and Professor Lawrence Idemudia.

The committee will work with the university’s Governing Council and has four main tasks. It is to identify those behind the allegations and advise the Visitor to the university on next steps. The panel will also examine claims of bribery and certificate forgery involving a lecturer, assess how well the 2024 visitation panel’s report has been carried out, and point out any gaps. It will also review other issues linked to ongoing reforms aimed at restoring ABSU’s standing in teaching and research.

Beyond the ABSU probe, the government shared updates on other programs. The 2026 school census for public and private schools started on May 11 and will run for one month to provide data for planning and access to the Hope Education Intervention Grant.

The Agency for Mass Literacy has opened 140 learning centres across Abia for adults who missed formal schooling. In line with Governor Alex Otti’s education plan, ASUBEB recently trained 265 head teachers and 306 early childhood teachers to improve school management and learning outcomes.

On sanitation, the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency has begun enforcing the use of waste bins in all commercial vehicles. Officials said the goal is to keep the state clean, not to raise revenue, and residents were urged to cooperate.

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