In a scathing rebuke delivered through an official petition to the National Universities Commission, Prof. Godwin U. Akam, Pro-Chancellor of Tansian University, has accused Rev. Fr. Edwin Chukwujekwu Obiorah, SAN, of being a “hungry interloper” who staged a “corporate coup” to seize control of Tansian University, Umunya, Anambra State following the death of its founder, Very Rev. Msgr. Prof. John Bosco Akam.
According to Prof. Akam, “This is not legal representation; this is the shameless meddlesomeness of a man who has no inheritance in Tansian University but seeks to possess it like a thief in the night.”
The petition authenticated several reports of deep-rooted orchestrated brazen takeover and fraudulent hijack from the rightful ownership of the university by Rev. Fr. Obiorah.
The devastating petition addressed to the Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Akam, the grieving younger brother of the late Very Rev. Msgr. Prof. John Bosco Akam—the visionary founder and beloved proprietor of Tansian University, lays bare a tale of manipulation, corporate duplicity, and governance distortion that threatens the very existence of the institution.
In a tone that mingles mourning and indignation, he writes of a man who “has turned himself into the Proprietor of the University,” distorting records, rewriting law and installing himself in all roles of power.
This is his lament. But beyond personal grief lies a deeper question: what becomes of a university when its governance is seized by one who is neither founder nor rightful custodian?
In the petition Prof. Akam, charged Rev Fr Obiorah, with overstepping his role and unlawfully assuming control of the private Catholic university following the death of its founder in 2021.
Prof. Akam contended that Rev. Fr. Obiorah, initially engaged as an external legal counsel through a 2017 agreement, has repositioned himself as both Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Trustees. In his petition, Prof. Akam accused Obiorah of systematically sidelining the institution’s founding body — the Missionary Sons of Blessed Tansi (MST) — and of installing loyalists into critical administrative positions without consultation with stakeholders.
Documents reviewed by Time Africa indicate that following the founder’s death, Dr. Obiorah’s law firm, Equity Law Office, facilitated the registration of a new legal entity named “Tansian University Umunya, Anambra State Limited by Guarantee.” Prof. Akam asserts that this company is being used to run the university, under a governance structure wholly distinct from the original. He further claims that Dr. Obiorah unilaterally altered the institution’s laws, invalidated the existing governing council, and appointed a parallel council composed of his own associates.
According to Prof. Akam’s petition, the internal structure of Tansian University has been fundamentally altered without due process or stakeholder input. “There are now parallel university governing councils,” he wrote. “Someone appointed as external solicitor has turned himself into the Proprietor.” He named two individuals, Mr. Innocent Uke and Mr. Daniel Igwilo — the ousted Registrar — as collaborators in the alleged effort to seize control of the university’s management.
A stakeholder meeting convened by the NUC on July 8, 2024, appears to lend credence to the Pro-Chancellor’s claims. According to records of the meeting, which included representatives from the Catholic Church, former pro-chancellors, and university officials, it was resolved that the MST remains the legitimate proprietor of Tansian University. Attendees also agreed that the university’s name should not reflect the new corporate entity registered by Dr. Obiorah but should remain “Tansian University, Umunya.”
In follow-up correspondence to the NUC, Prof. Akam demanded urgent regulatory intervention to prevent further disruption at the university. His petition requested the dissolution of the parallel governing structures created by Dr. Obiorah, official recognition of MST as the sole proprietor, and nullification of all administrative appointments made by Obiorah since February 2021. Prof. Akam also called for Obiorah’s removal from all university roles and asked the NUC to nominate a representative to the institution’s governing council.
“The university is currently being run more like a parish or diocese than a proper academic institution,” Prof. Akam warned in his letter. He maintained that peace and order at Tansian University could not be restored as long as Fr. Obiorah remains in the dual roles of Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He emphasized that the institution’s core values and academic integrity are at risk if the current situation continues unchecked.
Legal experts consulted by Time Africa say the case raises significant governance and ethical concerns. Central among them are potential breaches of fiduciary duty and conflicts of interest arising from a legal adviser effectively taking control of the institution. “The transformation from legal adviser to de facto university owner would require extraordinary legal justification,” said a legal analyst who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the dispute.
As of the time of reporting, Rev. Fr. Edwin Chukwujekwu Obiorah, SAN, had not issued a formal response to the allegations. Repeated efforts by Time Africa to obtain comment from Equity Law Office were unsuccessful. The silence has further fueled speculation and concern among university stakeholders and observers familiar with the case.
The NUC, Nigeria’s top regulatory body for tertiary education, has yet to issue a formal statement on the matter. However, observers within the education sector believe that the seriousness of the allegations will compel the Commission to initiate a formal investigation. Stakeholders warn that inaction could set a dangerous precedent for governance in private universities across the country.
Once hailed as a leading model of faith-based tertiary education, Tansian University now finds itself navigating uncertain waters. As the legacy of its founder comes under strain and the legality of recent administrative changes remains unresolved, the university’s future rests largely in the hands of regulators and the courts. Until then, the institution remains trapped in a power struggle that has shaken its very foundations.
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