The First Lady of Anambra State, Dr. Mrs. Nonye Soludo, has firmly denied any involvement directly or by proxy in the alleged award of a ₦33 million contract at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam.
Her response comes following a viral online publication alleging her complicity in a contract scandal involving her purported aide and officials of the university.
The report, titled “Contract Scandal: Nonye Soludo, Her Proxy, SSA on Special Duties and APGA State Deputy Woman Leader Mrs. Chinwe Umerie (Chy Autograph and Events), and Kate Omenugha of COOU,” accuses Mrs. Soludo of using a proxy to influence contract awards and honorary recognitions at the institution.
In a statement released Monday by Mr. Daniel Ezeigwe, the Senior Media Aide to the Governor of Anambra State, the First Lady categorically disassociated herself from the allegations, stressing that she does not hold any official position within the Anambra State Government and does have any Special Adviser or Assistant.
“The Office of the First Lady does not exist in Anambra State’s governmental structure,” “Mrs. Soludo has no Special Senior Adviser (SSA), no aides, and does not supervise or influence government contracts or university decisions in any capacity.”the statement noted.
The allegations had claimed that a ₦38 million contract was awarded by the Vice Chancellor of COOU, Professor Kate Omenugha, to a company Autograph & Events Planning—allegedly linked to Mrs. Chinwe Umerie , who the report falsely described as an SSA to the First Lady.
The statement debunked this claim, clarifying that Mrs. Umerie is not, and has never been, an SSA or staff member of Dr. Mrs. Nonye Soludo.
“It is important to state that Mrs. Chinwe Umerie does not work for the First Lady in any capacity. The allegations are both defective in fact and malicious in intent,” Ezeigwe added.
On the matter of honorary degrees, the statement emphasized that no Vice Chancellor in Nigeria can unilaterally confer such distinctions, as the authority to award honorary doctorate degrees lies with the University Senate and Governing Council.
“Honorary doctorate degrees are not awarded arbitrarily. The process follows due diligence and institutional protocols involving multiple governance layers,” the release said.
The statement went further to describe the allegations as “ridiculous, mischievous, and a senseless attempt to malign the integrity of a woman whose public and private life exemplify decency, transparency, and exceptional character.”
The statement urged the public and media to be wary of politically motivated misinformation designed to discredit individuals through character assassination, especially in the run-up to critical political timelines.
“The reading public is advised to disregard this baseless narrative, which lacks credibility, substantiation, and legal grounding,” it added
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