University Expels Student For ‘Insulting’ Akwa Ibom Gov On Facebook - 9japarrot

Breaking

Home Top Ad

Post Top Ad

Tuesday 22 June 2021

University Expels Student For ‘Insulting’ Akwa Ibom Gov On Facebook




A student known as Ikot Akpaden has been expelled by Akwa Ibom State University for insulting the state governor on Facebook.

The student, Iniobong Ekpo, was in his final year at the Department of Agricultural Engineering when he was expelled for publishing a “derogatory and defamatory article” in 2019 on Facebook against the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel.

He was first suspended indefinitely from studies before his expulsion two months ago.

Mr Ekpo used a pseudonym, Afrosix Jaara, to write the article in which he accused Mr Emmanuel of reneging on a promise he allegedly made in 2017 to give financial reward to the then graduating students of the university.

“It’s 2 years and 166 days since he promised, yet none of the graduands received a naira even the first class graduands were unattended to when they went to his office,” Mr Ekpo wrote in the Facebook post, adding that Mr Emmanuel may have “scammed” the students.

The governor by virtue of his office is the ‘Visitor’ to the university which is owned by the Akwa Ibom State Government.


The university, in the expulsion letter, said Mr Ekpo’s article was a “breach” of the matriculation oath and a violation of the university rules and regulations enshrined in the Student Information Handbook.

The university said the student had appeared before a disciplinary committee.

However, Mr Ekpo, through a letter written to the university by his lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, said the university authorities did not give him fair hearing.
 
He said he was never invited to appear before a disciplinary committee before his suspension.

Apart from challenging his expulsion, the student is demanding N20 million from the university as “general damages and gross breach of his fundamental rights.”

The lawyer, in his letter to the university, said he was not aware of any lawsuit by Governor Emmanuel against the student over the alleged “defamatory” Facebook post.

“We will like to know whether the Matriculation Oath Of the Akwa Ibom State University requires students to surrender their fundamental right to freedom of expression as guaranteed them by Section 39 of the Constitution Of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) upon admission into the University?” the lawyer also said in the letter.

In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Monday, Mr Ekpo said that he has no regret about his actions. He vowed to pursue the case in the court no matter how long it would take.


Source: PREMIUM TIMES

No comments:

Post a Comment

Post Bottom Ad