Oral Roberts University accountant sues school, says he was ordered to help cook the books

TULSA, Okla. — A senior accountant for Oral Roberts University claims in a lawsuit filed Wednesday that he was ordered to help school president Richard Roberts and his wife “cook the books” by hiding financial wrongdoing from authorities and the public.

Trent Huddleston said in the wrongful termination lawsuit that he was directed against his will to falsely list tens of thousands of dollars as expenses rather than assets — which were spent remodeling the home of Richard and Lindsay Roberts — in order to defraud the Internal Revenue Service and other agencies.

He claims nearly $123,000 was paid by Oral Roberts University and Oral Roberts Ministries for remodeling the home.

The suit said Huddleston “was improperly and unlawfully directed to perform functions and duties in violation of state and federal law in an effort by the defendants to ‘cook the books’ and hide from the appropriate authorities and the public the continued wrongdoing, improper and illegal conduct of the defendants, and in particular, of Richard and Lindsay Roberts.”

University spokesman Jeremy Burton said the university is reviewing the allegations and had no further comment. Roberts, who has been on temporary leave while an outside probe into the school’s finances, has denied wrongdoing.

The suit seeks more than $20,000 in actual and punitive damages.

Huddleston claims he was discharged on the day an audit was to take place. The audit was ordered by the school’s regents two weeks after three professors brought a wrongful termination lawsuit against the university accusing Roberts of misusing school funds to support a lavish lifestyle.

Two students also sued Wednesday in district court. Cornell Cross II and David Brown claim the wrongful termination of the three professors ruined the reputation of their degrees.

The lawsuits come after more than 80 percent of the faculty voted this week against Roberts continuing as president at the 5,700-student school.

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