President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial nominee, Anthony Anwuka, was reportedly found guilty of fraud, racketeering, and illegal allocation of funds in Imo State.

According to Sahara Reporters, this was back in 2009, when Anwukah was the Vice-Chancellor of Imo State University (IMSU).

The report stated that documents obtained showed that an Imo State High Court found Anwukah guilt of the charges leveled against him back then.

A government White Paper held that Anwukah was guilty of administrative racketeering.

Anwukah’s offences ranged from admitting more students than the capacity of IMSU and forcing students to pay for file jackets and processing.

Other alleged offences of Anwukah are; “the award of contracts without due process, and the use of special assistants to circumvent the bursary in order to furnish the Vice Chancellor’s residence.”

Anwukah, then Secretary of State for Imo State, was also accused, in the White Paper, of purchasing a Mercedes-Benz vehicle at a price of N3.8 million, as “retirement entitlement.”

Furthermore, the report stated that in January 2013, an Imo State High Court judge upheld the validity of the White Paper, and ruled that Governor Rochas Okorocha should implement its recommendations, which included the dismissal of Anwukah.

The court judgment was purportedly signed by Justice Ngozi Opara, who stated that Anwukah’s appointment ‘into a position of authority was unconstitutional, illegal, immoral, null and void and of no effect.’

Anwukah would however, reveal to SR that he had was cleared of all charges by the court three years ago.

To back up his claim, he quoted a letter sent to him from the Imo State University on December 21, 2011.

The letter stated: “I am pleased to inform you that the Imo State Government has directed that the compulsory retirement placed on you through the Government White Paper on the report of the Visitation Panel be rescinded.”

He would also provide the publication with court papers to prove that the court order was set aside by Justice Ngozi Opara on February 19, 2013.

Kolapo Olapoju