A’Ibom varsity suspends 4 for raping female student
Isaac Job, Uyo
Authorities of the Akwa Ibom state University have announced the suspension of four students for raping another female student of the institution at Obio Akpa Campus in Oruk Anam council area.
Head, Directorate of Information, Public Relations and Protocol of the university, Comrade Akaninyene Ibanga said the students were suspended by the university authority as a normal procedure to allow them attend police interviews as part of investigations by security agents to establish their level of involvement in the crime.
Ibanga, who spoke to our correspondent in a telephone interview disclosed that the university would expel the students based on the outcome of police investigation on the matter.
He said the police cannot exonerate them because the victim has obtained a medical report to back police investigation.
“There is no way the police would exonerate them because the victim has obtained a medical report to back up police findings. Once the police conclude their investigation and send their report, the university would expel them,” the institution’s spokesman confirmed.
In a release signed by him, Ibanga, named the perpetrators as Akpan Udeme Matthew, Essien Godwin Fidelis, Bassey Courage Joseph and Bassey Godspower Columbus respectively.
“Kindly be informed that the vice -chancellor of Akwa Ibom state University has taken appropriate disciplinary measures against the four students who have recently been involved in rape cases and caused embarrassment to the university community.
“The university has received a security report that on Saturday, March 23, 2019, you in company of three others allegedly raped and caused severe bodily harm to a female student of the Department of Performing Arts and Mass Communication,” the statement said.
He explained that the suspension letters were issued in line with the university’s rules and regulations as enshrined in the student information handbook.
He said the vice-chancellor on behalf of senate has directed that the culprits should be suspended indefinitely with effect from the date when they received the letters, for their gross misconduct which constitutes a breach of the matriculation oath.
