The university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Olusola Babatunde Kehinde, conveyed the appreciation in a formal letter addressed to EFCC Executive Chairman Ola Olukoyede, praising what he described as the agency’s “professionalism, resilience and commitment” in resolving the case.
Long-stalled Abuja property deal behind the dispute
According to the university, the recovered funds were originally paid in 2011 for a property arrangement intended to secure an Abuja liaison office and guest house for the institution.
However, the project reportedly became mired in administrative and legal complications, preventing the university from taking possession of the buildings despite the payment having been made over a decade ago.
After years without resolution, the institution eventually petitioned the EFCC to intervene and recover the funds.
Two-year investigation leads to recovery
The EFCC subsequently launched an investigation into the matter, which spanned approximately two years before culminating in the recovery and remittance of the ₦27 million to the university in April 2026.
The commission also reportedly filed charges against individuals connected to the failed transaction, according to the university’s account of the case.
Kehinde said the outcome represented both an institutional win and a broader affirmation of accountability mechanisms in Nigeria’s public sector financial management.
University praises anti-corruption enforcement role
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor emphasized that the intervention had strengthened confidence in the EFCC’s mandate to protect public funds and enforce financial accountability.
He noted that the recovery demonstrated the agency’s continued role in addressing long-standing financial disputes involving public institutions and ensuring that misappropriated or inaccessible funds are returned to their rightful owners.
The university said the resolution marked the end of a prolonged dispute and reinforced trust in anti-corruption enforcement processes in Nigeria’s education sector and beyond.