By CHIDIPETERS OKORIE
Duck beneath the cassock and behind the court wig, lurks a man whose ambition eclipses the mission he pledged to uphold. Rev. Fr. Barr. Edwin Chukwujekwu Obiorah, SAN—once aloft in prayer and jurisprudence—stands accused of masterminding a brazen, corporate-style takeover of Tansian University, Umunya, Anambra State.
A once-thriving faith-based institution is now mired in a growing governance crisis that has pitted founding stakeholders.
Rev. Fr Obiorah arrived at Tansian University under the mantle of legal service. Initially contracted as the university’s legal counsel, his role appeared honorable—until the lines between priestly devotion and corporate opportunism blurred. With the death of the university’s founder, Msgr. Prof. John Bosco Akam, in 2021, Obiorah seized the moment. He transformed from trusted adviser to governing autocrat, allegedly usurping roles meant for church, family, and board.
Insiders say he did more than navigate legal gray areas—he bulldozed them. Drafting new governing documents, forging parallel councils, and even overshadowing those ordained to shepherd the university, he orchestrated what critics call a “corporate coup.”
Originally retained as external legal counsel in 2017 by the university’s late founder, Fr. Obiorah now finds himself at the center of accusations that he has effectively taken over the governance of the university, bypassing existing boards, rewriting structures, and sidelining the legitimate proprietors.
What began as legal service has allegedly morphed into a complete seizure of authority, drawing condemnation from the university’s pro-chancellor, members of the Catholic Church, and other stakeholders.
Following the death of Msgr. Akam in 2021, the university’s succession planning faced an immediate test. Rather than a smooth transition to the next line of institutional authority—led by the Missionary Sons of Blessed Tansi (MST), the religious body co-founded by the late Msgr. Akam—multiple power centers began to emerge. According to documents submitted to the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Godwin Uchenna Akam, the Pro-Chancellor and sibling of the late founder, alleges that Dr. Obiorah unlawfully reconstituted the university’s governing framework and installed himself as Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
In a petition dated May 14, 2025, Prof. Akam accused Dr. Obiorah of creating a parallel university governance structure through the registration of a new legal entity named “Tansian University Umunya, Anambra State Limited by Guarantee.” The registration, he claims, was carried out without the knowledge or consent of the university’s founding religious order or governing council.
Under the new structure, key positions in the university were reassigned, while the original governing council was blocked from holding official meetings.
Further allegations point to the deployment of loyal operatives—among them Mr. Innocent Ukeh and Mr. Daniel Igwilo, the current university registrar—who, according to Prof. Akam, were instrumental in consolidating this new administrative hierarchy. He maintains that these actions amount to a corporate coup carried out under the guise of legal restructuring.
The dispute has since spilled into multiple fronts, including courtrooms, government regulatory offices, and church channels. A stakeholders’ meeting convened by the National Universities Commission on July 8, 2024, brought together various actors, including representatives from the Catholic Diocese, university management, and former pro-chancellors. The outcome of that meeting reaffirmed that the Missionary Sons of Blessed Tansi remain the legitimate proprietors of the university and that the institution’s name and original structure should be preserved.
Despite this resolution, the governing impasse persists.
According to Prof. Akam, Dr. Obiorah continues to operate the parallel entity and refuses to acknowledge the original council’s authority. The pro-chancellor has since called for the immediate dissolution of the alternate Board of Trustees allegedly formed by Dr. Obiorah, nullification of all appointments made since February 5, 2021, and formal recognition of MST as the sole proprietor. He has also requested that the NUC appoint a neutral representative to oversee governance reforms.
Beyond governance, questions surrounding property, finances, and legal ethics have further entangled the situation. The university’s Oba campus, which was developed in partnership with businessman and philanthropist Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, is now the subject of a separate legal standoff. Chief Ezeonwuka has accused the university of breaching a consent judgment over unpaid royalties and rental dues totaling over two billion naira. The businessman has since secured a court order authorizing the repossession and potential sale of the campus property to recover his investments.
According to him, the university under Dr. Obiorah’s administration made no effort to honour the agreement, and instead attempted to overturn the court’s judgment.
These accusations have further eroded public trust in the current administration of the university. Contractors allege unpaid debts, including a Turkish construction firm that has petitioned for N430 million owed for incomplete work. Lecturers and non-academic staff have reported irregular payments. Reports also indicate that some programs run by the university were initiated without proper Senate approvals, risking sanctions from the regulatory commission.
Critics argue that the root of the crisis lies in a breakdown of ethical boundaries between legal service and administrative control. Legal experts have described the case as one of the most complex intersections of fiduciary conflict and religious governance in Nigeria’s educational history. They warn that a legal adviser becoming the de facto owner of a university—through structural maneuvers and internal appointments—violates not only ethical norms but also corporate law principles.
The late Msgr. Akam’s Will had outlined a clear vision for the university. Seventy percent of the institution’s revenue was designated to support the Missionary Sons of Blessed Tansi. The remainder was to be administered under a board supervised by the Catholic Church and the founder’s family. Those close to the founder insist that Dr. Obiorah’s current role defies that vision and has caused a deep schism between the institution’s spiritual mission and its current operations.
Adding to the growing unease, Senator Victor Umeh, who was appointed Chancellor in 2024, was reportedly removed from the position under unclear circumstances. He was replaced by Dr. Obiorah following what multiple sources describe as an internal power maneuver. This development raised additional questions about the legitimacy of appointments and the absence of due process in leadership changes.
The National Universities Commission has yet to issue a final position on the matter. However, internal sources suggest that an investigation is underway. The regulatory body is particularly concerned about the risk of dual governance, financial mismanagement, and loss of academic integrity. Without a formal pronouncement, however, the university remains suspended in administrative limbo.
As the crisis deepens, Tansian University’s reputation and operations continue to suffer. Once hailed as a beacon of Catholic education, the institution now finds itself divided between two competing administrations. Students and staff remain uncertain about the future, while legal battles mount in the background.