Student Sues Akwa Ibom Varsity Over Unjust Expulsion For Criticising Udom

Ekpo Iniobong Isang, a final-year student at Akwa Ibom State University, has sued the university for his unjust suspension and expulsion for criticizing Governor Emmanuel Udom.

According to SaharaReporters, a 500-level student in the Department of Agricultural Engineering issued a pre-action notice to the Vice-Chancellor on June 18 through his lawyers.

In a letter written by John Udo, the Registrar and Secretary to the Senate, headed “Expulsion for Gross Misconduct,” Isang with the matriculation number AK15/ENG/AEE/013, was expelled on April 9, 2021.

“At its 69th meeting held on Wednesday, March 31, the Senate of the university deliberated on the report from the Students Disciplinary Committee. You will recall that you had appeared before the said committee on a case of publication of derogatory and defamatory article on Facebook platform about the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State and Visitor to the university. 

“This act constitutes a breach of the Matriculation Oath and violation of the university rules and regulations enshrined in the student information handbook. You are hereby expelled from the university for this act of gross misconduct which constitutes a breach of the Matriculation Oath,” the Registrar said in the letter. 

Isang is demanding, among other things, “the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of our client” in a pre-action letter from his lawyer, Inibehe Effiong.

The lawyer said, “At no time did the Akwa Ibom University invite or summon our client to appear before the university’s Students Disciplinary Committee prior to his indefinite suspension. Our client was not shown, confronted or availed with the purported abusive post.

“It is apparent that the university acted in contravention of Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

“Despite repeated entreaties by our client to be given a fair hearing, the university failed or refused to address his grievances and unfair treatment. Our client was not given a reasonable and air opportunity to defend himself before he was expelled.

“Consequently. We hereby demand the following; one, immediate and unconditional reinstatement of our client, two; restoration of all studentship rights accruable to all students of the university.

“Three, a special opportunity and waiver for our client to write all the the tests and examinations which he registered and paid for but was prevented from writing.

“Four, the payment of the sum of N20 million to our client representing damages for the gross breach of our client’s fundamental human rights and the resultant depression he has suffered.

“Please take note that we have the firm instruction of our client to commence legal proceedings against the university if the above demands are not EMT within seven days of the receipt of this letter.”