UNIZIK Hits Back! No Contract with Abdullahi Hawawo; Dukonni’s Contract for New Perimeter Fencing, Not Renovation
By Bolaji Israel
The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK, Awka, Anambra State, has refuted allegations of breach of contract, double awarding of contracts, and other issues raised against it concerning a failed contract incident involving the institution and an aggrieved party, Abdullahi Hawawo Construction Co. Limited.
The university characterised the claims as false, baseless, and an unwarranted publicity stunt intended to harass or intimidate Nnamdi Azikiwe University into conceding to illegitimate and unfounded assertions regarding a contract for the perimeter fence of the institution.
It clarified that there was no binding legal contract between the university and the construction company, as the firm failed to meet the terms and requirements specified in the provisional offer letter within the designated timeframe for the award of the Remodelling and Construction of the Southern Boundary (Frontage Perimeter Fence, Lot 1).
UNIZIK further explained that due to other developments, it decided to proceed with the construction of an entirely new perimeter fencing project rather than its initial rehabilitation plan, which was duly awarded to Dukonni Nig. Ltd., following all necessary procedures in the university’s procurement system.
This was disclosed in a statement sighted by the THECONSCIENCE NG from the office of the Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Ikechebelu Joseph, and signed by Njelita Louis O, Head of Information, Public Relations and Protocol, on March 3, 2025.
An online newspaper (not THECONSCIENCE NG) reported a contract scandal involving the university and the Acting Vice Chancellor, claiming, “NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY UNIZIK CAUGHT IN CONTRACT SCANDAL AS ACTING VC AWARDS SAME PROJECT TWICE, SECOND AT OVER DOUBLE INITIAL PRICE.”
However, the university maintained that the report was not only false but also malicious and lacking factual basis.
It noted that, contrary to the claims made by the construction company, the acceptance letter they allegedly submitted was never received or recorded in the university’s files, and the purported submission date was five days before the provisional letter was even received by the company.
The university questioned how a company could submit an acceptance letter five days prior to receiving the actual offer letter. “In effect, Abdullahi Hawawo Construction Co. Ltd. accepted the offer five days before they even received the offer. What a wonder!” the statement read.
Similarly, the statement pointed out that the alleged request for mobilization from Abdullahi Hawawo Construction Co. Ltd. was dated October 28, 2024, two days before they received the contract award offer letter.
The university highlighted these inconsistencies and asserted that it acted in good faith.
In the statement titled “NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY REFUTES FALSE CONTRACT SCANDAL ALLEGATIONS: DEBUNKING THE LIES AND EXPOSING THE TREACHEROUS SCHEMING OF CONTRACT TOUTS AND THE SHENANIGANS OF DETRACTORS,” the university emphasized, “To set the records straight, there was no contract between Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Abdullahi Hawawo Construction Co. Ltd. for the Remodelling and construction of the Southern Boundary (Frontage Perimeter Fence, Lot 1).”
The statement further clarified, “A glance at the said (contract) letter will reveal that the third paragraph of that letter reads: ‘You are required to enter into an agreement with the University on the contract,’ while paragraph four reads: ‘You are also required to confirm your acceptance of this offer of award of contract within seven (7) days of the date of this letter.’ It would be preposterous and callous to interpret the said letter as an Award of Contract and as establishing a legal contract between Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Abdullahi Hawawo Construction Co. Ltd. The letter is what it is—an offer!”
According to the university, the two requirements from the offer letter were never fulfilled by the alleged contractor, resulting in no legal contract being established.
“For reasons best known to Abdullahi Hawawo Construction Co. Ltd., they failed, neglected, and disregarded the need to accept the offer within the stipulated seven days that it was open. As a result of their failure and refusal to accept the offer, the offer lapsed. Consequently, no agreement was entered into between Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Abdullahi Hawawo Construction Co. Ltd. for the award of the contract,” the statement explained.
UNIZIK also noted that the alleged contractor never mobilised any resources to the site, contrary to their claims.
It stated, “The necessary formalities for handing over the site to Abdullahi Hawawo Construction Co. Ltd. were not fulfilled because the offer of award was never accepted, and no agreement was entered into for the contract as indicated in the offer letter. Furthermore, the site in question is an open space, and no such activities, as falsely claimed by Abdullahi Hawawo Construction Co. Ltd., ever occurred there.”
The university added, “Bidding for a different contract for a completely new perimeter fence was subsequently advertised, and due process was followed in awarding the contract for this new perimeter fence (not the remodeling of an old fence) to Dukonni Nig. Ltd.”
It further urged the claimant to pursue appropriate legal action if they believe a contract with the university was breached or that the university failed in any contractual obligation instead of spreading falsehood on social media.
