EFCC Arraigns Ex-FUD Vice Chancellor Over ₦19.7m Bribery Allegations
The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, February 5, 2026, arraigned a former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Dutsinma, Professor Armaya’u Hamisu Bichi, before Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar of the Katsina State High Court over alleged bribery amounting to ₦19.7 million.
Bichi was docked alongside two others, Lawal Tukur Mani and Aliyu Lawal Jari, who were alleged to have assisted him in receiving the bribes. The defendants are facing a five-count charge bordering on bribery.
One of the charges alleged that Bichi, sometime in July 2023 in Katsina, while serving as Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Dutsinma, obtained a bribe of ₦5 million from one Theophilus Ilechukwu of Goezek International Agency Nigeria Limited as gratification for the award of contracts for the supply of medical equipment and the furnishing of a laboratory at the university. The money was allegedly paid into an Access Bank account belonging to the third defendant, Aliyu Lawal Jari, an offence punishable under Section 79 (a), (b) and (i) of the Penal Code Law of Katsina State, 2021.
The EFCC alleged that the first defendant received the bribes through the second and third defendants as kickbacks from contractors who were awarded various contracts by the university during his tenure.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, Salihu Sani, requested a trial date to enable the prosecution assemble witnesses and present its case.
Defence counsel, A. L. Yusuf and Raphael Henry, separately applied for bail on behalf of their clients. Justice Abubakar granted each defendant bail in the sum of ₦5 million with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case to March 12, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
