The Anambra State Government has dismissed claims linking First Lady Dr. Nonye Soludo to an alleged ₦38 million contract at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU).
Reports circulating online suggested that the university awarded the contract to Mrs. Chinwe Umerie, the All Progressives Grand Alliance deputy state women leader, who was also described as a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Mrs. Soludo and an employee in the university’s audit unit. The reports further questioned an honorary doctorate degree said to have been awarded to the governor’s wife.
In a statement released on Monday, the Senior Media Aide to the Anambra State Governor, Daniel Ezeigwe, strongly refuted the allegations. He clarified that there is no office of the First Lady in Anambra State, and Mrs. Soludo has no SSA. He also confirmed that Mrs. Umerie does not work for the First Lady.
“We have been informed of another spurious post by agents of mischief and mongers of falsehood dragging the Governor’s wife’s name into an alleged matter concerning COOU. While it has become peculiar for the poor opposition in Anambra State to roll in the dirty mud in the name of politics, we advise the public to disregard such information, which is a senseless attempt to malign a woman whose life reflects decency, straightforwardness, and peerlessness.”
Ezeigwe added:
“For avoidance of doubt, there is no office of the First Lady, and there is no SSA to Mrs. Nonye Soludo. Mrs. Chinwe Umerie is not SSA to Mrs. Soludo and does not work for her. Mrs. Soludo is not involved in any contract process in the Anambra State government, let alone a ₦38 million contract at COOU. Honorary doctorate degrees are approved by the university’s Senate and governing council, not unilaterally by the Vice Chancellor. We understand this is the season of politics, and some will go to any lengths in their desperate chase for nothing.”
The government urged the public to disregard the allegations as politically motivated falsehoods.
