Bethune-Cookman University sues former president Edison Jackson over dorm deal
Bethune-Cookman University has sued former President Edison O. Jackson, a pair of former school officials and the developer of the university’s newest dorm, claiming that bribery, corruption and fraud surrounded the project, which will ultimately cost the university $306 million.
The suit, recorded Wednesday in Circuit Court, said “secretly built” into the dormitory’s price tag are “millions of dollars in improper payments,” some of which are alleged to have been made to Jackson and two former high-ranking school officials who were Jackson’s longtime associates. It also alleges that “hush bonuses” were paid to B-CU staff to obtain their “silence” on the deal.
This past summer, The News-Journal published a series of stories showing that the historically black university, founded by Mary McLeod Bethune, was in difficult financial straits. An expose on the dorm deal — which included the review of hundreds of documents, including emails, court records and financial statements — revealed many of the troubling facts in the suit, including that the dorm’s developer, Darnell Dailey, had been sued twice for fraud, that his company had no prior experience in dorm projects, and that the deal was fast-tracked by the administration and board of trustees.
In the wake of the stories and other controversies, Jackson retired as president, and the administration, led by newly appointed interim President Hubert Grimes, promised to investigate any financial wrongdoings. The suit appears to be the first step in that process.
Read more: http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20180124/b-cu-sues-former-president-edison-jackson-over-dorm-deal
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