Ayomide Salako, an oncology researcher and X influencer, has been highlighting the criminal history of some Nigerian politicians in July. The personalities mentioned have held or currently occupy one or two positions of influence significant to Nigeria’s social-political trajectory and current reality.
Hope Uzodinma, Imo State Governor, received the most attention among other names like Ogun State governor Dapo Abiodun, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, former Abia State governor Orji Kalu and Femi Gbajabiamila, President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff.
In this post, Salako mentioned seven pubic criminal cases against Uzodinma alone.
Hope Uzodinma.
Alleged to have bought a supreme court judgment in 2011 against Osita Izunaso, to become Senator.
Doesn't have a public academic record. Used to say that he studied criminology at Missouri. Of course a lie.
Was accused by Spring Bank of 419 in 2005.
Once had… pic.twitter.com/Q3S51TAcHN
— 👑S.A.L.A.K.O🕊 (@UnkleAyo) July 23, 2025
Naijapunchnews verified the accusations against the Imo governor.
Senate Ticket Issue and S’Court Pronouncement in 2011
In 2011, both Osita Izunaso and Uzodinma were contesting for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ticket ahead of the 2011 senatorial election.
Uzodinma won the PDP primary election for Imo West Senatorial District on January 9, 2011, with a total of 2,147 votes while Izunaso was the runner-up with 891 votes.
In February of the same year, however, a Federal High Court declared Izunaso the party candidate for the position because Uzodinma was not cleared by the PDP’s electoral panel, according to a petition written to the party by Festus Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
The Hight Court ordered the PDP to forward Izunaso’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its candidate.
In March 2011, the Court of Appeal issued a stay of execution while the case was still ongoing, allowing Uzodinma the freedom to continue campaigning. Later in April, the court upheld the High Court’s decision to disqualify Uzodinma, but he proceeded to appeal the case at the Supreme Court.
Subsequently, the Supreme Court overruled both the High Court and the Appeal Court in favour of Uzodinma. He would also go on to win the seat in elections.
Surprising and suspicious? Yes. Bought? Unconfirmed.
Academic Pendulum
In 2012, Uzodinma was caught up in an academic fraud scandal. The ex-senator had always claimed that he was a graduate of Arts/Criminology from Washington University, Missouri.
The claim blew up after a news outlet, Point Blank, claimed that the university denied Uzodinma.
Subsequently, Uzodinma claimed Washington International University, but the newspaper also debunked this as ‘a diploma mill’.
The controversy around Washington International University was also mentioned by other non-Nigerian news sources apart from Point Blank. The institution lacked accreditation by any recognised accreditation agency, its degrees were ‘substandard’ and unrecognised.
Joseph Boinett, Kenya’s Inspector General of Police, also faced national controversy for claiming to have obtained a degree from the same university on the grounds of accreditation.
One Man, Spring Bank Petition, Contract Scam and Non-Declaration of Asset
In 2005, Spring Bank Plc, a commercial bank, filed a petition against Uzodinma with the EFCC. The bank alleged that he diverted money under false pretence.
After much investigation, the anti-graft agency filed a prima facie case nine-count charge against Uzodinma at the Lagos High Court.
In 2018 again, the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for Recovery of Public Property arrested Uzodinma over a $12 million contract scam.
According to a Daily Trust report, Okoi Obono-Obla, chairman of the panel, said a company belonging to Uzodinma was paid $12 million by the Nigerian Ports Authority to dredge Calabar channel but it failed to execute the contract.
The chairman said that the arrest was necessary because Uzodinma failed to honour 12 invitation letters the National Assembly had sent to him.
As that was ongoing, he was also facing a two-count charge filed against him by the federal government on his refusal to declare his assets as a member of the National Assembly.
“That you, Senator Hope Uzodinma (M) on or about the 5th day of March 2018, being a public officer with the National Assembly Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, committed an offence to wit: refused to declare your assets without reasonable excuse and upon notice to declare your assets before the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Abuja, contrary to and punishable under S. 3 (3) (1) (a) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provision) Act 2004,” one of the charges read.
Issued a N200m Dud Cheque
In the same 2018, an Abuja Court issued a bench warrant for Uzodinma’s arrest following a complaint filed by Chima Akuzie and his company, Chitek Ventures Ltd, for issuing them a N200 million cheque that bounced.
Uzodinma, Smiek Engineering and Niger Global, his companies, were named as defendants in the case.
Akuzie claimed that Uzodinma subcontracted to Chitek Ventures, a shoreline protection project in Koko, Delta State, a contract Uzodinma claimed he got from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Chitek Ventures and Akuzie claimed that Uzodinma issued the cheque after his company had successfully completed the project but it was rejected when they tried to cash it at United Bank for Africa (UBA).
Post a Comment