By Ogochukwu Isioma
Management of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has suspended a Student Activist, Comrade Obinna Ezechukwu and set up a Panel of Inquiry to probe into the activities of the former student, throughout his stay in the University.
Ezechukwu, a fresh graduate of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, is being investigated by the UNIBEN management over an article he authored recently, after the University increased her school fees for new students by over a 100 per cent.
“UNIBEN got an annual allocation of N19.53b for 2023. Can the Management be bold enough to open their book and tell the public what these funds were used for so we can take away the doubts that these funds are not enough? Transparency helps a lot,” one of the now-deleted post on Twitter read.
It was gathered that Ezechukwu’s graduation from the University of Benin was put on hold by the UNIBEN management over the article which the University’s top officials say is “critical” of the Salami-led administration.
The Management had allegedly expunged Obinna’s name from the University’s Graduation List over the article, which forced him to miss the compulsory one-year National Youth Service after the Institution failed to mobilise him.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that Ezechukwu who is yet to be officially briefed of his alleged offence, has been formally invited to appear before the Panel on Monday, July 24 at the University’s Senate Chambers by 10:00AM.
A copy of the invitation letter addressed to Obinna and obtained by METROWATCHONLINE.COM, dated 20th July, 2023 was signed by Barr (Mrs) Juliet I. Osawemwenze, Secretary of the Panel, under the Office of the Registrar.
“You are invited to appear before the Panel of Inquiry set up by the Vie (sic) Chancellor in relation to the case you have with the School Authority,” the letter read in part, warning that, “failure to appear may attract indefinite suspension.”
Membership of the Panel has been shrouded in secrecy, even as Management has kept mum on the matter. It is not immediately clear if any Students’ Representative would be sitting on the Panel.
Efforts to obtain comment from the Institution’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mrs Benedicta Adeola Ehanire and the Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof. Clement Ighodaro proved abortive.
However, students of the Institution have kicked against the move by Management to sanction one of their colleagues over what they described as attempt to suppress and gag freedom of speech and information.
