Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi, has rejected claims that N2 billion has gone missing from its finances.
Prof. Simon Terver, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), addressed the rumors during a press conference in Makurdi on the 12th of May, 2025, He dismissed the allegations as “baseless and misleading.”
The university’s response came after its Director of ICT took legal action against Henry Ibya, the Benue State correspondent for Aljazirah Newspaper, accusing him of defamation, cyberstalking, and spreading false information.
Ibya’s report suggested that the university had lost N2 billion due to a malfunctioning ICT portal, which allegedly led to the suspension of the ICT Director for investigation.
Ibya was arrested by the Benue State Police Command on the 25th of April, 2025, and later appeared in court, where he was remanded at the Makurdi correctional center.
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After spending nearly a week in custody, he was granted bail, and the case was adjourned to July 2025.
During the press briefing, Terver further addressed the university’s challenges, including students’ resistance to paying fees.
He attributed this reluctance to economic difficulties and cultural perceptions that view fees as a form of taxation.
“Many students are studying without paying fees,” he revealed.
Terver explained that the university’s cautious approach to fee enforcement aims to prevent unrest. While a committee is currently reviewing fee compliance, he emphasized that this process is purely administrative and has no connection to any financial misconduct.
“No N2 billion is missing. The committee’s work is strictly administrative, not investigative,” Terver affirmed.