By Jungle-Journalist.Com
Tansian University, Umunya, Anambra State, is once again in the eye of a storm. The private university, founded in 2007 by Very Rev. Msgr. Prof. John Bosco U. Akam, a Catholic priest, has long battled crises of governance, accreditation and ownership. The latest scandal — the controversial appointment of Mr. Innocent Ukeh as Acting Registrar — rekindles old questions about integrity, accountability and the very survival of the institution.
According to information made available to Jungle-Journalist.Com, stakeholders and civic groups have written formal petitions to the National Universities Commission (NUC) alleging that Ukeh’s appointment was based on a forged letter of appointment he used to claim the position of Deputy Registrar.
One petition sighted by this newspaper reads in part:
“The said letter of appointment purportedly signed by the late founder of Tansian University is a forgery. It is criminal in nature and has no basis in law or university statutes. To allow Mr. Innocent Ukeh to sit as Acting Registrar on this foundation is to institutionalize fraud within the university.”
For petitioners, the forgery is not an isolated personal fraud but symptomatic of a broader culture of manipulation that has weakened Tansian University’s credibility.
The Registrar’s Seat: A Critical Position at Stake
The Registrar’s office is widely regarded as the “engine room” of a university’s administration. From admissions to student records, examinations and Senate correspondence, it is one of the most sensitive posts.
A former staff member, in another petition to the NUC, warned:
“It is dangerous for the future of students to have their records handled by someone without prior administrative experience, with disputed moral credentials and with no verifiable service in the university system.”
Critics allege that Mr. Ukeh has no history of service at Tansian, that his highest qualification is a third-class degree from a seminary, and that he was rusticated from his seminary training for misconduct. These claims remain allegations and, as of this report, have not been directly rebutted by the university in a way that satisfies petitioners.
Regulators Already Watching: CLE, NUC and the Courts
The controversy over the Registrar’s appointment comes at a time when Tansian University is already under regulatory pressure. In 2024 the Council of Legal Education (CLE) suspended admissions into the law programmes of several universities, naming Tansian among the affected institutions — a development that struck at the heart of the school’s academic reputation.
The long-running property dispute between Tansian University and businessman Chief Romanus “Rojenny” Ezeonwuka (Ranent Industries) has had severe operational consequences. Court rulings and appeals over ownership of the Oba take-off campus culminated in decisions that have forced the university to vacate premises, face heavy cost awards and contend with a string of enforcement actions.
Taken together, regulatory sanctions and litigation have created an environment in which governance controversies — such as contested senior appointments — are amplified and have real consequences for students and staff.
A Pattern of Allegations and Petitions
Beyond court rulings and regulatory sanctions, numerous petitions have been lodged against the management of Tansian University in recent years. These allege forgery, certificate racketeering and attempts to hijack the university’s governance structure.
One such petition submitted in 2023 to the NUC reads:
“There is a systematic attempt to turn Tansian University into a playground for impostors and unqualified personnel. We urge the NUC to carry out a forensic audit of staff appointments and promotions to protect students and restore the credibility of the institution.”
The Human Cost
For students and parents the stakes could not be higher. Transcripts, admission records, Senate approvals and graduation documents all depend on a trustworthy Registrar’s office. With this post under a cloud, students fear the validity of their certificates could be questioned by prospective employers and foreign institutions.
A parent told Jungle-Journalist.Com:
“We are spending millions to give our children a good education. If the university is engulfed in forgery and fraud, then what future are we paying for?”
The Founder and the Background Context
Very Rev. Msgr. Prof. John Bosco U. Akam — the founder and onetime Chancellor of Tansian University — is a central figure in the institution’s history. The founder’s vision and drive were instrumental in securing licences and establishing the university’s early operations. In later years, however, disputes over land ownership, payments and governance tied back to arrangements made during the university’s founding.
Some of these disputes culminated in protracted litigation with Ranent Industries and its principal, Chief Romanus Ezeonwuka, and these matters have continued to shape the institution’s legal and financial standing long after the founder’s involvement.
The Way Forward
Education analysts contacted for this story say the only credible way forward is for the NUC and relevant regulatory bodies to carry out a comprehensive forensic audit of Tansian’s administration. That means not just investigating Mr. Ukeh’s appointment, but also probing senior appointments, accreditation compliance, staffing records and financial dealings.
As one education consultant put it bluntly:
“The ivory towers are meant to be sanctuaries of knowledge and integrity, not playgrounds for forgers and impostors. If Tansian University continues down this path it risks collapse.”
Conclusion
The crisis over the Acting Registrar is not just about one man. It is the latest symptom of a long-festering governance crisis that has eroded trust in Tansian University. Unless urgent corrective steps are taken, the institution risks losing its standing in Nigeria’s higher education sector.
For now the fate of Tansian University — and the academic futures of its students — hangs in the balance.
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