A coalition of concerned staff at the Federal College of Education (FCE), Gombe, has submitted a formal petition to the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, levelling serious allegations against the institution’s Provost, Dr. Ali Adamu Boderi. The allegations include large-scale financial mismanagement, abuse of office, and violations of federal civil service procedures.
The petition, dated April 17, 2025, and signed by a group under the banner “FCE Gombe Staff Integrity Group,” accuses the provost of operating with impunity, allegedly in collusion with officials at the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE). According to the petitioners, Dr. Boderi has sidestepped financial and administrative regulations, leading to the misappropriation of hundreds of millions of naira in public funds.
₦500 Million Recruitment Controversy
The petitioners allege that in 2019, Dr. Boderi conspired with the head of the college’s consultancy unit to divert more than ₦500 million earmarked for the recruitment of new staff. Despite the full release of funds, the newly employed staff were reportedly only paid half a month’s salary. The group described the incident as a major breach of trust and accountability.
Failure to Delegate During Study Leave
Another concern raised in the petition is Dr. Boderi’s alleged failure to delegate his responsibilities while on study leave at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru, Plateau State. The group insists that the deputy provost should have been appointed to act in his stead, in line with existing regulations, but no such arrangement was made.
Council Investigation Allegedly Blocked by NCCE
A probe initiated by the college’s Governing Council reportedly unearthed widespread financial irregularities. According to the petition, the Budget Monitoring and Evaluation Committee of the Council identified several instances of misappropriation, including unauthorised contract awards and the retention of government property. However, the Executive Secretary of the NCCE allegedly pressured the Council into retracting a letter demanding action against the provost, effectively halting accountability efforts.
One of the more damning claims concerns the college’s consultancy unit, which allegedly operated nine bank accounts for several years without undergoing any formal audit. The unit’s director, Dr. Gazali M. Abdulhamid, is said to have remained in office for seven years, despite the statutory four-year tenure limit.
Questionable Contracts and Abandoned Projects
The petition lists several contracts awarded between 2022 and 2023 that allegedly show clear evidence of procurement fraud. For instance, a company identified as Urban Cribs Company was reportedly paid ₦99.7 million in August 2022 for upgrading the college’s perimeter fence, yet no visible work was carried out. Similarly, another contractor, Spirent Nigeria Limited, received over ₦633 million for an indoor sports hall project that never materialised.
In June 2023, an unnamed and allegedly unregistered firm was reportedly paid ₦199.7 million for a staff training programme that did not take place. Another company, Habitat Blueprint Company, is said to have been paid ₦668.2 million for electrical installations, though the actual status of the project remains unknown. Additionally, the group alleges that ₦33.9 million of a ₦40 million contract for digitalising college administrative units was disbursed, yet the system remains non-functional.
According to the petitioners, over ₦1.8 billion was spent on so-called “constituency projects” in August 2023 without the approval of the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Allegations of Bribery and Abuse of Monetisation Policy
The petition also alleges that after the Governing Council moved to reconstitute the board of directors of the consultancy unit and approved a forensic audit, Dr. Boderi attempted to bribe some external Council members by offering ₦500,000 each in unsolicited payments. Some of the recipients reportedly returned the money, raising further suspicion about the motive behind the payments.
Additionally, Dr. Boderi is accused of breaching monetisation policies by holding on to five official vehicles, which are chauffeur-driven and maintained at government expense. The college’s former bursar is also said to be in possession of an official Hilux vehicle that has not been returned.
The group has called on the Education Minister to initiate an independent investigation into the matter and to ensure that all individuals found culpable are brought to justice.
“The provost has repeatedly boasted that no petition against him can succeed because he has the financial means to suppress it,” the petition stated.
Provost Reacts to Allegations
In a brief comment, Dr. Boderi acknowledged awareness of the petition but dismissed it as the handiwork of faceless individuals. He claimed the authors are impersonating actual staff members of the institution. The provost further disclosed that the Governing Council had already established a committee to look into the issues raised.
EFCC Launches Inquiry
While it remains unclear whether the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has officially received the petition, a letter obtained by WikkiTimes, dated April 15, 2025, suggests that the agency has begun making inquiries. The EFCC’s Gombe Zonal Office reportedly sent a request to the Provost seeking financial records, contract details, and other relevant information.
An EFCC official, who spoke anonymously due to lack of authorisation, confirmed the authenticity of the letter but declined to disclose further details.
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