Alumni Association of the University of Nigeria, UNN, Nsukka has blamed the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike for the alleged illegal removal of the Pro-Chancellor of the university that has thrown the university community into crisis.
In a press conference in Abuja, yesterday, the association said having illegally removed the Pro-Chancellor of the University, Emeka Enejere, the Minister went ahead to replace him, (Enejere) with his legal adviser even without following the due process the government of President Goodluck Jonathan preaches.
In a swift response, the Special Adviser to the Minister, Simeon Nwakaudu described the allegation as untrue, saying that the removal of the Pro-Chancellor was approved by the presidency.
National President of the Alumni, Chief Andrew Oru who described the action of the Minister as an act of illegality and an act of violence and utter disrespect for the office of the President, called for immediate re-instatement of the Pro-Chancellor to avoid the crisis going out of hand.
“Curiously, our initial investigations have revealed that this announcement (removal of Enejere) came a day after the Pro-Chancellor delivered Council’s report of its activities till date to the said Minister, and just a day before Council was to meet to deliberate and possibly adopt the said report,” the Alumni said.
“A copy of the said report now in our possession reveals monumental fraud and mismanagement on the part of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bartho Okolo. Same investigation has revealed to us that the President of Nigeria, who is the visitor, was not aware of the said pronouncement and did not, and could not have authorized it”.
Besides, the Alumni accused the Vice-Chancellor of the University Prof. Bartho Okolo of running the university with impunity and called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to investigate him over allegation of contract scam to the tune of about N3 billion.
The presidency have so far kept mum on its authorisation of Enejere’s removal.
