The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned Armayau Bichi, a former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Dutsinma, alongside two co-defendants, Lawal Mani and Aliyu Jari, before the Katsina State High Court over alleged kickbacks and bribery totaling N19.7 million.
The defendants were charged on five counts, to which they all pleaded not guilty. According to the EFCC, Mr Bichi received bribes from contractors through his co-defendants while serving as vice chancellor.
In one of the charges, the commission alleged that in 2023, Mr Bichi accepted N5 million from Theophilus Ilechukwu of Goezek International Agency Nigeria Limited as a reward for awarding contracts for the supply of medical equipment and furnishing of the university’s laboratory. The money was reportedly deposited into Mr Jari’s Access Bank account.
The EFCC noted that the offences violate Section 79 (a)(b)&(i) of the Penal Code Law of Katsina State, 2021, which prescribes up to 10 years’ imprisonment and fines for public servants who accept bribes.
Defence lawyers A.L. Yusuf and Raphael Henry requested bail for the defendants, which Trial Judge Musa Abubakar granted in the sum of N5 million with one surety each.
EFCC counsel Salihu Sani requested a trial date, to which the court adjourned the proceedings until 12 March 2026 for the commencement of trial.
The case is among several recent prosecutions involving academics accused of fraud and corruption in Nigerian universities.