UNIBEN Forms ‘Probe Panel’ Over Student’s Name Removal Controversy

Cursory: UNIBEN set up a panel to look into the controversy surrounding it for not graduating student Obinna Ezechukwu. Concerned students threatened to protest if he was not allowed to graduate and participate in the national youth service. UNIBEN increased school fees earlier, leading Ezechukwu to call for transparency in fund allocation.

The University of Benin (UNIBEN) in Benin City, Edo State, South-South Nigeria, has yielded to pressure regarding the treatment of a student. Initially, UNIBEN allegedly declined to graduate Obinna Ezechukwu from the Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Political Science, for questioning the university’s allocation spending.

However, in response to the situation, the university has established a panel to investigate the removal of Ezechukwu’s name from the graduation list and his alleged involvement in questioning the university’s funds usage during 2023. The panel will also examine all of Ezechukwu’s activities throughout his time at the institution.

When the university refused to graduate Ezechukwu, fellow students reportedly threatened to protest and shut down the school.

They were concerned about the removal of his name from the list of graduating students intended for the mandatory national youth service organized by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Ezechukwu had criticized the recent increases in school fees, with the university raising fees to N190,000 for sciences and N170,000 for non-sciences students for the 2022/2023 academic session.

He called for transparency in the utilization of the university’s annual allocation of N19.53 billion for 2023.

He wrote on one of the school’s social media platforms:

“UNIBEN got an annual allocation of N19.53b for 2023. “Can the management be bold enough to open up 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.”

Under pressure from concerned students who resisted the attempt to summon Ezechukwu to a disciplinary committee without formal notification, the university constituted the panel.

Ezechukwu has now been officially invited to appear before the panel at 10 am on Monday, July 24, at the University’s Senate Chambers. However, the panel’s membership has not been disclosed, and the university management has remained silent on the matter.

It is not the first time UNIBEN has summoned its students to disciplinary committees over comments or articles deemed “offensive” or “critical” of the school or for participating in “anti-management” protests on campus.

Source: Saharareporters

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