KEY POINTS

• EFCC has arraigned former Federal University Dutsinma VC, Prof. Armaya’u Hamisu Bichi, over alleged ₦19.7m bribery.

• The commission says he received kickbacks from contractors through two intermediaries.

• All defendants pleaded not guilty and were granted ₦5m bail each; trial begins 12 March 2026.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Dutsinma, Katsina State, Prof. Armaya’u Hamisu Bichi, over an alleged bribery scheme involving ₦19.7 million.

Bichi was brought before Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar of the Katsina State High Court on Thursday on a five-count charge bordering on bribery and abuse of office.

He was arraigned alongside two other defendants, Lawal Tukur Mani and Aliyu Lawal Jari, whom the anti-graft agency alleged served as intermediaries in receiving the illicit payments.

EFCC Alleges Kickbacks From Contractors

According to the EFCC, the alleged offences were committed while Bichi served as Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Dutsinma.

Prosecutors told the court that the former university head received kickbacks from contractors as inducements for the award of contracts within the institution.

One of the charges read in court stated that Bichi, in July 2023, while a public servant, obtained ₦5 million from one Theophilus Ilechukwu of Goezek International Agency Nigeria Limited as a reward for awarding contracts for the supply of medical equipment and the furnishing of a laboratory at the university.

Funds Allegedly Routed Through Third Party

The EFCC said the ₦5 million was not paid directly to Bichi but was instead transferred into an Access Bank account belonging to Aliyu Lawal Jari.

The commission maintained that this transaction violated Sections 79 (a), (b) and (i) of the Penal Code Law of Katsina State, 2021.

Prosecutors further alleged that the ₦5 million formed part of a larger scheme in which Bichi allegedly received bribes totalling ₦19.7 million through the second and third defendants as kickbacks for various contracts awarded during his tenure.