Delayed Justice: Ten Months Later, Pending AE-FUNAI Extortion Case Still Lingers

In April, 2024, ASIWAJU Media reported how a lecturer in the Mass Communication department at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo, AE-FUNAI, Oscar Chima, stands accused of allegedly collecting N30,000 from a final year female student in exchange for facilitating her passing the MAC 321 course (Photojournalism). 

The investigation through a WhatsApp chat between Mr Oscar and the girl painted a grim picture of a negotiation on how to pass the girl through the backdoor, sadly, for a paltry sum.

The Mysterious Investigation 

Six months back Asiwaju Media reached out to the Public Relation Officer of the school, Mr Elom Iyke, for the outcome of the allegations.

Mr. Elom told Asiwaju Media that disciplinary action in a public institution follows a process. From investigation, then to the Disciplinary Committee, if there is any culpability. It is after the Disciplinary Committee submits its findings and recommendations that the university management can apply the rule.

He added that “if these processes are not followed, the university can easily be sued. The case is still on. At least an accused has a right to defend himself while the accuser also has to prove his own case.”

Ubochi assured that “this management is doing everything to rid the university of corrupt characters. It must follow due process.”

However, when our reporter reached out to him in February 2025, Mr Iyke stated that the investigation is still on.

Extortion: A thriving Norms

The case of Mr Chima is not an isolated case. In 2024, Premium times reported an extortion of a postgraduate student in University of Nigeria, Nsuka (UNN).

The allegation happened two months after a lecturer from the university was accused of attempting to sexually molest a female student in the institution.

The alleged sexual attempt on the female student occurred in April 2024 around the same time the AE-FUNAI extortion case happened.

However, as the justice in Mr Chima’s case gets delayed, it indirectly signals for rogues to keep the trade (extortion) alive.