The N296m question: How did federal infrastructure money end up at a private Catholic university in Imo?

A Nigerian senator used his position as chairman of a powerful Senate committee to channel nearly N300 million in federal taxpayer funds into building an ICT centre at a private Catholic university in Imo State — then presented it as a personal gift to the institution, a new investigation has found, according to the Foundation for Investigative Journalism.

Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi, who represents Imo East in the Nigerian Senate, facilitated a N296.4 million federal government-funded ICT centre at Claretian University of Nigeria — a privately owned Catholic institution at its Nekede campus in Owerri West Local Government Area. The project was funded through the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) via the 2024 Appropriation Act.

The critical conflict: Onyewuchi is the chairman of the Senate Committee on NASENI in the 10th National Assembly — a position that gave him direct influence over what projects made it into the agency’s budget. He effectively determined the funding allocation for a project that ultimately benefited a private institution with which he has a personal relationship.

According to Govspend, which mirrors the Federal Government’s Open Treasury Portal, the project was paid for in four instalments to two companies. Rikadez Nigeria Limited, the principal contractor, received N77.94 million in November 2024 and N181.85 million in December 2025.

Civil society group Tracka raised concerns over the rationale behind locating a publicly funded facility within a private university and urged the EFCC and ICPC to examine the project and its implementation.

The university’s Vice Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Wenceslaus Madu, publicly thanked Onyewuchi for the project — describing the senator as “a wonderful friend and supporter of the University.” Senator Onyewuchi has not responded to the allegations.