By Abiola Olawale
A former minister of education, Professor Fabian Osuji, has succumbed to the cold hands of death, on Wednesday.
He died on Wednesday morning, according to a family member who confirmed the news.
Though circumstances surrounding the demise of the revered educationist remains sketchy as of press time, reports coming in suggests that Osuji passed away after battling with some illness. Osuji was Accused of involvement in a N55m-Bribe-for-Budget padding scandal when ge served as minister of education during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure. He was subsequently fired by Obasanjo.
Born on January 20, 1942, Osuji attended Holy Ghost College in Owerri, Government College in Umuahia, the University of Nigeria in Nsukka, Enugu State, and the University of Ibadan, Oyo State. He was a professor from the University of Nigeria Nsukka and has over 35 published papers and books
Professor Osuji retired voluntarily from Imo State University in 1990 to pursue a career in politics.
In 1991, he emerged as the Imo State Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (Social Democratic Party) with an unprecedented landslide victory. However, with a few days to the elections, the Federal Government of Nigeria, under General Ibrahim Babangida, inexplicably disqualified Osuji along with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other leading gubernatorial candidates in several states.
Professor Osuji later served as Imo State Commissioner for Information and Social Development (1994-1996), and Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (2000-2003).
Professor Osuji was appointed Minister of Education in July 2003. His appointment was widely acknowledged as a round peg in a round hole.
He was dismissed by President Olusegun Obasanjo in March 2005 following his indictment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly offering N55 million ($400,000) in bribes to the National Assembly to pass an inflated budget.
Obasanjo announced the dismissal in a national radio broadcast that implied his guilt. The case was handed to the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) for prosecution. In April 2005, Osuji was questioned by the ICPC, as were former Senate leader Adolphus Wabara and Senators Abdulazeez Ibrahim, Emmanuel Okpede, Badamasi Maccido and Chris Adighije.
In May 2005 Osuji appeared in the Abuja High Court along with Wabara and five lawmakers.
After extended legal battles, on 1 June 2010, an Appeal Court sitting in Abuja declared that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against Osuji, describing the government”s actions as “embarrassing, barbaric and uncivilized” and subsequently quashed all charges against Professor Osuji.
