FRAUD : Unical goes tough, fires Egbala Bassey, 4 others, retires 2, demotes 3

Mr. Egbala Bassey

The University of Calabar has wielded the big stick on some of its staff for engaging in various forms of fraud and misconduct.

Rising from its 157th meeting, the Governing Council of the institution has terminated the appointment of 5 Staff, demoted 3 and retired 2 compulsorily over what it described as “gross misconduct”.

After thorough consideration of reports of its Disciplinary Committee, Council decided to use the sledge hammer on the erring staff for indulging in acts that contravened relevant laws of the University.

The termination, demotion and retirement of the staff was contained in separate letters signed by the Registrar of the institution, Mr. Gabriel Egbe and dated January 23, 2020.

Those whose appointments were terminated are; Mr. Egbala Bassey of the Vice Chancellor’s office for his alleged involvement in acts of Financial Misconduct and employment racketeering. He was said to have collected monies from some persons with the intention of facilitating and securing employment into the University.

Also, Mr. Valentine Eworo and Ms Theodora Agama both of the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry. They were relieved of their appointments for allegedly altering Examination grades and Results of Organic Chemistry II, General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II Courses for some students of the Department.

Similarly, Mr. Samuel Philip Bassey of the Dean’s Office, Faculty of Arts, was also sacked for defrauding the University by cloning the signatures of the immediate past and present Vice Chancellors, on a purported ‘’authorization to travel form’’ which enabled him obtain funds from the University for Conference attendance.

Mrs. Roseline Etim Eyo of the Department of Religious and Cultural Studies was also dismissed for misconduct.

In the same vein, Mrs. Comfort Felix Aya, Mrs. Ugo Samuel Bassey and Mr. Richard Uno Inyang were all demoted by one rank for allegedly making false claims and obtaining monies from the University.

For Ugo Samuel, Council directed that the sum of N150, 000(One Hundred and fifty thousand naira) be refunded to the institution on or before February 29, 2020.

While the termination and demotion takes effect from the 13th of December 2019, that of Mrs. Roseline takes effect from May 6, 2019

In a related development, the University has compulsorily retired two members of staff from service for engaging in various forms of corruption.

While Mrs Helen Obeten was retired from service for involving in acts of financial misconduct and employment racketeering, Mrs Felix Aya of the Department of Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management was retired for gross insubordination, abandonment of duty and disrespect for constituted authorities.

Mrs Helen Obeten, according to her retirement letter, was said to have collected monies from some persons with the intention of facilitating and securing employment in the institution.

The letter said the action contravened section 5.7.3(iv) of the University of Calabar Conditions of Service 2014, which borders on corruption, dishonesty and sabotage against the University.

The retirements take effect from December 13, 2019.

The institution commended Prof. Ikana Uwah and Mr. Francis Akpan of the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry for the role they played in promptly reporting sharp practices perpetrated by some members of staff in the department.