ACC May Arrest IPAM, Femab Authorities

The Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), University of Sierra Leone (USL) is entangled in a financial scandal after losing a staggering US$4.5 million in a failed Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with a Nigerian company.
The funds were envisioned for a new IPAM campus project, were advanced payment were made to the Nigerian Company despite numerous red flag warnings from senior financial officials, stakeholders, and oversight and governance within the institution, USL proceeded with the payment, bypassing essential safeguards that could have prevented that colossal loss.
Some concern citizens are of the opinion that an unhealthy deals have taken place and now the deals have backfired in the doorstep of IPAM.
The project which began in 2017 with high hopes of constructing a US$50 million ultra-modern campus for the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), University of Sierra Leone at Bureh Town, shattered when the Nigerian developer, Femab Properties, failed to deliver on its commitments and abandoned the site at Bureh Town.
Reports say when the agreement was approved by Parliament it was celebrated with fanfare at State House. Today, it has become a cautionary tale. Sources say former Financial Secretary Sahr Jusu had raised serious concerns about the contract, highlighting the absence of a guarantee for the advance payment and the vague terms of the agreement. However, his warnings were ignored.
The USL scandal deepened as it emerged that the university had kept the loss secret, only coming to light after investigative inquiries. Efforts by USL’s Vice-Chancellor to retrieve the funds have been met with silence from Femab. Now, the project, which would have enhanced Sierra Leone’s educational infrastructure, now lies in limbo.

This debacle brings to light the dangers of ignoring financial safeguards and the consequences of insufficient due diligence. The situation also raises questions about accountability within the university’s administration and the broader implications for public funds in Sierra Leone.