Sources indicate that the contractor implicated in the scandal will also be required to appear before the ICPC.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has summoned Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu, the Acting Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, to appear before it on Thursday, March 13, 2025, in connection with a contract award scandal. Sources say the contractor implicated in the scandal will also be called to appear before the ICPC.

The contract, valued at N370 million, was awarded under the 2025 Federal Government appropriation bill, which has not yet been approved by the National Assembly. Sources familiar with the matter informed Sahara Reporters that the ICPC had extended an invitation to the university. However, it is alleged that Prof. Ikechebelu tried to conceal the invitation, asking for a formal written notice rather than responding to the initial phone call.

"ICPC has invited Prof. Ikechebelu Joseph, the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, regarding the contract award scandal reported by E-News earlier this month," one source told on Thursday.

"Following that, the contractor will also appear. He is scheduled to appear before the ICPC today (Thursday). I’m not sure whether it will be at the Abuja headquarters or the Enugu Zonal Office." "I can't say for sure whether both contractors were invited because the Vice Chancellor is concealing it. Also, keep in mind that he awarded the contract worth N370 million under the 2025 Federal Government appropriation bill, which has yet to be passed by the National Assembly.

"The university was officially invited, but Ikechebelu is hiding it. They contacted him by phone, and he told them to send him an official letter."

On March 2, It was reported that the university was at the center of a contract scandal involving its acting vice chancellor.

E-News investigation uncovered that the contract for the university's perimeter fencing was awarded twice—first to Messrs Abdullahi Hawawo Construction Co. Limited in 2024 for ₦180,031,437.50, and then to Dukonni Nigeria Limited in February 2025 for ₦370,738,367.05, without officially canceling the original contract.

Sources within the university stated that the Acting Vice Chancellor's actions directly breach procurement laws, as the second contract was awarded without formally revoking the first.

On March 3, the university management confirmed that it had awarded a contract for the university's perimeter fencing to two different companies, while making efforts to downplay the scandal.

In a statement titled "Nnamdi Azikiwe University Refutes False Contract Scandal Allegations," signed by Njelita Louis, Acting Head of Information, Public Relations, and Protocol, the university claimed that no legally binding contract existed between the institution and Abdullahi Hawawo Construction Co. Ltd. due to the company's failure to accept the offer within seven days.

The management clarified that the company had only been issued an offer letter on October 25, 2024, which required formal acceptance and a contract agreement to be signed within seven days. The university insisted that the company failed to meet this condition.

"For clarity, an offer letter does not constitute a contract. The letter issued to Abdullahi Hawawo Construction Co. Ltd. explicitly stated that they needed to enter into an agreement with the university. However, they failed to accept the offer within the designated timeframe, causing it to expire," the university explained.

"The letter dated October 28, 2024, requesting a 30% advance payment was sent two days before the contractor even received the offer letter, raising serious doubts about the credibility of their claims.

"The university did not disregard a valid contract request, as no contract ever existed between the parties," the statement concluded.