Documents Reveal How UNIZIK Lecturer, Azuka Anthonia Aniefuna Dubiously Used Her Company, Prisco Engineering Services LTD To Secure ₦1.6 Billion Faculty Building Contract At University of Aeronautics Engineering, Violating CCB

Secrets Reporters

Investigation by SecretsReporters has revealed how a ₦1.6 billion contract for the construction of a proposed Faculty Building at the University of Aeronautics Engineering in Ezza South Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, was awarded to Prisco Engineering Services LTD, a company whose director is a serving public servant at Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

Mrs. Azuka Anthonia Ugochukwu-aniefuna, a lecturer in the Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, is listed as one of the directors of the winning firm. This arrangement contravenes the provisions of the Nigerian Code of Conduct Bureau, which prohibits public officers from engaging in or directing private business enterprises while in government service.

The contract, officially titled “Lot 10: Construction Of Proposed Faculty Building In University Of Aeronautics Engineering, Ezza South LGA, Ebonyi State,” was awarded to Prisco Engineering Services LTD by the Ebonyi State Ministry of Tertiary Education. The procurement process was conducted openly through the Ebonyi e-GP platform under Tender ID ocds-zinqhl-099094-EB/MTE/EP029-NG (OCID: ocds-zinqhl-099094-EB/MTE/EP029-NG).

According to official records, the tender was advertised on 8 November 2024, with the tender period running from 8 November to 6 December 2024. Bids were opened on 13 December 2024. Two companies submitted Price BOQ envelopes: Klyn Construction Works LTD bid ₦2,919,542,428.77 and was not awarded while Prisco Engineering Services LTD bid ₦1,664,733,600.00 and was declared the winner.

Documents revealed that the contract was formally awarded on 31 January 2025 at the budgeted sum of ₦1,600,000,000. The award criteria stated “Award to the most responsive bid.” The contract was signed the same day and runs for 365 days, from 31 January 2025 to 31 January 2026.

As of the latest implementation records, the contract status remains active, with the full ₦1,600,000,000 designated as the total amount to be paid to the contractor and a reported balance of ₦0.

Prisco Engineering Services LTD was incorporated in Owerri, Imo State, on 14 November 2007, with Registration Number 718056. Its registered office is at Plot 119 Ikenegbu Layout, Owerri, Imo State. The company’s contact details listed in the procurement documents include the email augustachikaude@gmail.com (mailto:augustachikaude@gmail.com) and phone number 07031306410. The firm’s current corporate status is listed as unknown.

Apart from Mrs. Azuka Anthonia Ugochukwu-aniefuna, another director of Prisco Engineering Services LTD is Aniefuna Jude Ugochukwu who is suspected to be her husband.  

Under the Nigerian Code of Conduct Bureau rules, public servants, including lecturers in federal universities, are strictly prohibited from running or holding directorships in private companies while in government service.

The procuring entity, the Ministry of Tertiary Education, is headquartered at the Ebonyi State Secretariat, Abakaliki, with the official contact email tertiary@ebonyieprocure.eb.gov.ng (mailto:tertiary@ebonyieprocure.eb.gov.ng). The project falls under the 2024 budget with Budget ID ocds-zinqhl-099094-EB/MTE/EP029-NG118674 and was classified under works procurement using the NG-TIN scheme.