By Gabriel Enogholase

BENIN – A new dimension had been added to the selection process of a substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, with the invitation of the Chairman of the Governing Council of the university Prof. Mvendega Jibo, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Vanguard reliably gathered that the invitation to Prof. Jibo to appear before the commission in its Port Harcourt zonal office was sequel to a petition which alleged that he took N20 million to enable the selection committee favour a Bini candidate in the selection of a vice-chancellor for the university.

It was, however, gathered that although Prof. Jibo had asked for extension of time and was given September 1, 2009, date to report, he failed to appear before the commission on the said date.

Consequent upon this, the commission had in another letter dated September 2, 2009, and titled “Investigation Activities – Letter of Invitation”, directed the Chairman of the Governing Council to report on September 8 at 1:00pm prompt.

Vanguard learnt that Professor Jibo, who was asked to report to the EFCC office along with Dr. Festus Iyayi and Dr. Austin Moye, Former National President of ASUU and immediate past chairman, ASUU – UNIBEN respectively, was said not to have reported at press time.

But reacting to his invitation, Dr. Festus Iyayi said the authors of the petition to EFCC alleged that the Bini people, through the Benin Forum, contributed N20 million which they gave to Dr. Austin Moye to give to him (Iyayi) to hand over to Prof. Jibo to support a Benin candidate.