Concerned Idoma Unity Forum has raised concerns about the process leading to the suspension of the Pioneer Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Prof Innocent UjaH and the appointment of Professor Ediga Agbo, as the acting Vice Chancellor by the Governing Council of the institution.
The group expressed surprise that the Governing Council did not follow the stipulated guidelines in the University Act on the removal of a substantive VC.
However. a press statement by the Coordinator, Information, Publication and Public Relations, of FUHSO for the Registrar, Mr James Onogwu, said Prof. Ediga Agbo emerged as acting Vice Chancellor of the University during the special meeting of the Governing Council held on the 17th of October 2024.
The press statement stated that the emergency meeting was headed by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of FUHSO, Engr. Ohieku Muhammed Salami.
He further stated that the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council and Members, earlier during the meeting, suspended the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the University for alleged gross misconduct and disregard for its authority.
Also, in a separate press statement, Concerned Idoma Unity Forum Chairman, Mr Agada Johnson, said the suspension of the pioneer Vice Chancellor orchestrated by the chairman of the governing council is not in the best interest of the University and Idoma nation as due process was not followed.
He explained that section 2AAA of the University Act passed by the National Assembly in 2003 stipulated that the Vice Chancellor can be removed by the Visitor after due consultation with the Council and Senate acting through the Minister of Education.
Speaking on the process of removing a substantive Vice Chancellor, he said the VC can be removed on grounds of misconduct or inability to discharge the function of the office through a proposal of removal and a joint committee of Council and Senate shall be constituted with three members which according to them was not done in this case.
The Group, while stating that Prof Agbo is qualified to be appointed as acting VC,” said: “We are seeing a serious fault line which has to be corrected because an injustice done to one is an injustice done to all. Why was the VC suspended without being allowed to defend himself and was
indeed far away from South Korea on a national delegation”
