Calabar, Nigeria – The Cross River State Government has launched a full-scale investigation into the illegal sale of assets belonging to the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), allegedly carried out by members of the university’s former Governing Council.
Between May and August 2024, over 400 valuable items were reportedly sold off in secret—not to the public, but to the very officials in charge of managing them.
These assets include eight industrial generators, a 500KVA generator installed in 2015, and several official vehicles, including one donated by the previous administration of Governor Ben Ayade.
Instead of following legal procedures under the Public Procurement Act, which requires public advertisement and competitive bidding, the former council members allegedly conducted the sale behind closed doors. There was no public notice, no bidding process, and no transparency—raising serious concerns of corruption and abuse of power.
Governor Bassey Edet Otu has ordered an immediate probe. His Special Adviser on Asset Management and Recovery, Barr. Gilbert Agbor, has given the implicated officials seven days to provide: “A full list of the sold assets; Official approval documents for the auction; Evidence of a public auction announcement (if any existed at all); A list of buyers and their links to the former council; and Proof of payments and details on how the proceeds were used.”
With the state government demanding accountability, tension is rising. If the officials fail to justify their actions, they could face serious legal consequences.
A senior university staff member, who spoke anonymously, described the situation as “a disgraceful betrayal of public trust.”
“They thought they could get away with secretly selling off university property, but now the truth is coming out. They must be held accountable,” the staff member said.