Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti – In a move that has sparked accusations of opacity and potential financial misconduct, the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has come under scrutiny for disbursing a staggering N106.8 million to three entities on a single day in late 2024, without providing any public disclosure on the purpose of the payments.

The transactions, flagged on a portal mirroring the Open Treasury system, appear to violate key provisions of Nigeria's 2007 Public Procurement Act (PPA), raising questions about accountability in the management of public funds at the institution.

The controversial payouts occurred on December 2, 2024, when FUOYE wired funds to Diamond Global Engineering Investment Limited (N34.7 million), Tktech Multi Global Limited (N66.8 million), and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS, N5.3 million).

While the payment to FIRS is presumed to relate to tax obligations – a standard fiscal requirement – the allocations to the two private companies, both specializing in engineering and trade services, were listed with a stark description: "None."

This lack of detail stands in sharp contrast to other FUOYE disbursements throughout 2024, which included clear notations such as project descriptions or service specifics.

Section 18 of the PPA mandates that procuring entities, including public universities, must "clearly identify and describe the goods, works, or services" in all procurement planning and documentation. The law aims to foster transparency, prevent corruption, and ensure equitable competition by making processes auditable.

By omitting any rationale for these substantial sums, FUOYE's actions not only flout this requirement but also undermine public trust in how taxpayer-funded institutions handle resources.

"This isn't just an administrative oversight – it's a direct breach that could expose the university to misuse of funds," said a procurement expert who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing similar cases where vague disclosures have led to investigations by anti-corruption agencies.

The total amount – equivalent to roughly $65,000 at current exchange rates – represents a significant outlay for a federal university already grappling with budget constraints and student welfare demands.

Efforts by Foundation for Investigation Journalism (FIJ) to reach FUOYE's spokesperson, Foluso Ogunmodede, for comment on the matter were unsuccessful. A phone call on Friday went unanswered, and a follow-up text message had not elicited a response by press time.

This silence echoes the university's recent defensive posture in other controversies, including denials of involvement in unauthorized student loan deductions under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme earlier this year.

In that instance, Ogunmodede dismissed the claims as baseless, emphasizing that no irregular funds had been traced to FUOYE's accounts.

No official statements from the university's governing council or the Ministry of Education have emerged.

Watchdogs like the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) have yet to comment, but precedents suggest such lapses could trigger audits or sanctions. For now, the "None" label on these payments hangs like a question mark over an institution meant to illuminate knowledge, not obscure accountability.