Kano varsity charges students over destruction of property worth N500m naira

The Kano State University of Science and Technology, Wudil, yesterday indicted some students who embarked on violent protest in which the university’s property worth over N500m was destroyed.

Besides, the university authority dissolved the Students’ Union Government (SUG) for their involvement and failure to elicit their statutory responsibility during the crisis as enshrined in the university’s law.

The students had gone on rampage on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, after three of their colleagues drowned in a River near Kano university’s campus. One of the students died while two were rescued alive.

The management had shut the university immediately after the violent protest.

Addressing journalists yesterday on the preliminary report of the evaluation and investigation panels, Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Shehu Musa, explained that the students vandalised 21 facilitates including the Management Information System Office (MIS), two bank Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Oxygen fitted ambulance, staff and official vehicles.

Professor Shehu, however, noted that senate at its 84th meeting, approved a compulsory charge of N13,000, as fine and N4,000 for medical screening of all students.

“Senate also approved Monday, July 23 to Friday, August 3, 2018 for the screening after which students will resume full academic activities on Monday, August 6, 2018,” he added.

In a related development, the Rector of Igbajo Polytechnic, Osun State and former Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor, Oduduwa University, Olaolu Akinola Olugbenga, has been arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for alleged forgery of a doctorate degree (PhD) certificate.

A statement signed by ICPC spokesperson, Rasheedat Okoduwa in Abuja, disclosed that Olugbenga is currently being detained at the Ibadan, Oyo State office of the commission.

He is undergoing interrogation after preliminary investigations by ICPC operatives acting on a petition, confirmed that the suspect was actually working with a fake PhD certificate he purportedly obtained from the University of Ibadan.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the dissolution of the Governing Board of National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) with immediate effect.

The President also nullified the purported suspension of the Registrar, Professor Ifeoma Isuigo-Abanihe and four other directors of NABTEB.

A special investigative panel constituted by the board to probe activities of the Registrar/Chief Executive of NABTEB, had uncovered irregularities in contract awards and abuse of office by the embattled Registrar.

The panel also ordered Abanihe to immediately refund N49.7 million, which she could not account for to NABTEB’s coffers.

But a statement yesterday by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono, noted that the suspension did not follow due process, especially in the case of the Registrar, because the Board went beyond its powers and in contravention of Sections 5 and 6 of NABTEB Act.

Credit: Guardian