The Registrar of Tansian University, Umunya, Mr. Innocent Ukeh, has been arrested by the Nigeria Police Force over allegations of forgery and falsification of official documents, sparking fresh concerns about administrative integrity within the institution.
Sources familiar with the development said Ukeh was taken into custody on Friday following allegations that he forged a Certificate of Occupancy for a property belonging to Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka. The alleged forgery is believed to be part of a broader pattern of misconduct currently under investigation.
In a related allegation, Ukeh is accused of backdating an appointment letter purportedly promoting Reverend Fr. Edwin Obiorah to the rank of Associate Professor. Investigators claim the letter was issued without proper authorisation and outside established academic procedures.
According to findings, Ukeh allegedly presented the appointment letter while claiming to hold the position of Deputy Registrar—an office he reportedly never officially occupied, having not progressed through the required administrative ranks. Sources within the university further disclosed that there was no written directive from any recognised authority approving the appointment.
Concerns have also been raised regarding Obiorah’s academic qualifications and teaching experience. Available records indicate that his prior engagement with the university up until 2022 was limited to serving as a legal consultant, a non-academic role.
The unfolding controversy has drawn attention to broader regulatory questions surrounding the institution. Critics note that Tansian University has faced scrutiny over programme accreditations, particularly in relation to professional pathways such as admission into the Nigerian Law School and mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps.
University insiders also revealed that the Vice-Chancellor and the then Deputy Vice-Chancellor were reportedly unaware of the alleged appointment letter, raising questions about internal oversight mechanisms. Additionally, concerns have been directed at the office of the previous Registrar, Mr. Dan, who was responsible for document oversight during the period in question.
As of press time, the Nigeria Police Force had not issued an official statement detailing the charges or the status of the investigation. However, stakeholders within the academic community have called for a thorough probe and comprehensive reforms to strengthen governance structures in private universities.
The incident is expected to have significant implications for Tansian University’s reputation and may prompt closer scrutiny of administrative practices within Nigeria’s higher education sector.
