Metro

Crisis Brews In UNN As Court Restrains Varsity From Conducting Convocation Election

Published

9 months ago

December 1, 2024

A Federal High Court sitting in Enugu State on Thursday, restrained the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, from conducting a convocation election until the determination of a suit brought before it by some aspirants in the election following an alleged breach of the Standing Orders of Proceedings of the Convocation election by the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Polycarp Chigbu.

The plaintiffs in a suit number FHC/E/CS/217/2024, stated that Professor Chigbu breached sections 20 and 22 of the Standing Orders of the Convocation as he allegedly changed some procedures of the election without a properly constituted convocation meeting.

A source who pleaded for anonymity said “On the 7th of November, 2024 and as required by law, the University of Nigeria published the procedures for a convocation meeting where the convocation representatives in the University of Nigeria Governing Council will be elected. However, while the Registrar of the University was away on an official duty, the Ag. Vice Chancellor, in what many members of the University described as an “act of rascality and a gestapo style of impunity,” truncated the process by unilaterally publishing a completely set of different procedures on 21st November, 2024 without reference to subsisting publication of 7th November and the Standing Order of Proceedings of the convocation, an action many perceive as geared towards favouring his close associate.”

It was gathered that the standing orders of the convocation restrains anyone, including the Vice Chancellor from changing any part of its proceedings without a properly constituted convocation meeting. Part of the orders reads “the standing orders may be amended by notice of a motion in writing. Such motion shall be carried by two-thirds members of convocation present and voting.”

Another source in the University also said “Considering all these observed anomalies, the aspirants approached the Court. During the Court proceedings on Thursday 28 November, 2024, evidence of services of the court processes on the defendants’, which included the University of Nigeria, Ag. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Polycarp Emeka Chigbu, and the Convocation, were presented to the Court. After listening to the presentations, the Judge adjourned the matter, but emphatically said that the University of Nigeria, as federal institution, should be aware that proceeding further with any of the process that is being challenged in court, having being duly served, is not acceptable in law. The Judge’s position is completely in line with the well established tradition in law, which requires all parties to stay action on matters pending before a court of competent jurisdiction. However, the current Ag. Vice Chancellor has little regard for the rule of law.”

One of the plaintiffs who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity called on the Pro-Chancellor of the University, General Ike Nwachukwu (Rtd), not to allow his reputation to be soiled by the Acting Vice Chancellor.

He equally urged General Nwachukwu to save the University from the brewing crisis by ensuring that the proceedings of the convocation election follow due process in accordance with the law and the standing orders of the convocation of the University.

He stated that the Acting Vice Chancellor’s consultation of stakeholders in the University to change the standing orders of convocation is “fraudulent tactics” as stakeholders are not an organ of the University.

“Members of the Senate are members of the convocation and the Vice Chancellor never mentioned such matter in any of the Senate meeting. Which stakeholder is bigger than the Senate of the University and the Convocation itself”?

Sources who spoke to our reporter agreed that there may be a need to reform the convocation election, but that such reform should be done in accordance with the laws and standing orders of the University.

They stated that the way and manner the Ag. Vice Chancellor is pursuing the current election raises a lot of suspicion and points to an ulterior motives.

Inquires made by our correspondent about the company, ARROW FAST LIMITED Rg No. 1408710, which has been hired to undertake the online registration and conduct the online voting raises even more questions about the integrity and fairness of the entire process. It was gathered that the company has never undertaking any of such projects before.

The Counsel to the Plaintiffs, Barrister C. D Eze, told our reporter that whatever UNN does with regards to the election is subject to the decision of the court since it has been served.

“After moving our application in the court, the judge asked whether we have served UNN. When we answered in the affirmative, the judge said that whatever UNN does with the election is subject to the decision of the court since the institution is aware of the case.

“We didn’t get injunction because UNN was not in court that day,” he said.

When contacted, the UNN’s Legal Adviser, Barr. M.A Obayi, declined to comment on the matter.

It was gathered that January 15, 2025 has been fixed for the hearing of the case.

Metro

My Husband Fought, Abandoned Me Cos’ I’m Barren, Woman Tells Court

Published

3 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

A woman, Wasilat Saka, has pleaded with a Grade 1 Area Court in Kubwa, Abuja (Federal Capital Territory), to dissolve her marriage to her husband, Tajudeen Jimoh, over alleged abandonment and conflicting faith beliefs.

Wasilat told the court that she got married to Jimoh under Islamic Law on July 30, 2022, adding that their marriage did not produce any children.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), she alleged that Jimoh, who claimed to be a Muslim, abandoned her for months shortly after they got married while refusing to perform necessary Islamic rites.

“My husband does not observe the five daily prayers and the Ramadan fast.

“We always quarrel and fight for these reasons.

“I beg the court to grant my request of divorce,” Wasilat said.

Jimoh was absent in court despite being served with the hearing notice.

The judge, Ibrahim Rufai, adjourned the case.

Metro

Our First Child Beat Me Blue And Black After My Wife Turned Them Against Me —Man

Published

3 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

…That was the easiest way I made him pay their fees —Wife

Grade A Customary Court, Court 2, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has given judgment on a divorce suit brought before it by a man, Tajudeen, who dragged his wife, Kafayat, to court, accusing her of showing him no love or affection.

He added that she was troublesome and violent and that she refused to let him have peace of mind.

Tajudeen stated that Kafayat was defiant and never listened to him nor took instruction from him.

The plaintiff explained that the defendant was brutal and always sought every opportunity to fight and hurt him with any dangerous object within her reach.

He added that she refused that he give their children proper training, and that she turned them against him.

According to him, the eldest of their children beat him till he was almost unconscious in the presence of his wife and she saw nothing bad in it.

Tajudeen explained that Kafayat constantly came to his office to fight and disgrace him.

The plaintiff stated that he was fed up with his wife’s unruly behaviour and thus pleaded for divorce.

Kafayat refused that their union be dissolved, stating that she and her husband jointly built their house.

The defendant did not deny being defiant and in the habit of fighting her husband even in his office.

According to her, that was the only way she made her husband commit to his responsibilities in the home and, more importantly, pay their children’s school fees.

Tajudeen, in his evidence, said, “My wife and I got married under Islamic Law and I paid her bride price.

“My marriage to my wife is void of love and care. She made our home a hell to live in.

“I no longer have a say in our home because my wife is rebellious. She never listens to me nor takes orders from me. She would turn every argument between us into a fight.

“Kafayat being a violent person always hits me with dangerous objects within her reach. The scars on my body tell the story.

“Much worse is the fact that my wife refused that I train our children and always instigates them against me.

“The strain in the relationship between our children and me led to our eldest child beating me till I almost fainted.

“My wife was present at the scene and she neither restrained our son nor rebuked him.

“My wife is still not satisfied and would come to my office to fight and disgrace me.

“My lord, I have had enough of my wife and children’s waywardness and cannot take it any longer.

“I pray this honourable court to end our marriage and grant me custody of our children so that I can give them proper training.

“I also request an order restricting her from coming to my office to fight me.”

Kafayat in her response said: “What my husband said is not totally true.

“We met in 1997 and he impregnated me.

“I started living with him although no marital rites were carried out on my behalf. He in addition did not pay my bride price.

“My lord, I do not agree to divorce because we both contributed towards building the house we are living in.

“It is true that I fight him even in his office. I discovered that was the only way I could force him to be committed to his responsibilities in the home and especially paying our children’s school fees.”

Ruling, the court president, Mrs. O. E. Owoseni, said there was no marriage to be dissolved since no customary marriage was held and no bride price was paid.

Metro

My Wife Harasses, Slaps Me All The Time —Husband

Published

3 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

…He’s a liar —Wife

A businessman, Raphel Chima, has dragged his wife, Joy, before a customary court in Jikwoyi, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), because she always beat him.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Raphael made the allegation in a divorce petition he filed against Joy before the court.Newspaper-inspired merchandise

“My wife physically abuses and harasses me.

“She slaps me at the slightest chance. She abuses me mentally,” he said.

He also told the court that his wife was disrespectful to his parents.

The petitioner told the court that his wife had long abandoned their only child and that he had been the one caring for him.

He prayed the court to dissolve the marriage between him and his wife and grant him custody of their child.

The respondent, Joy, denied the allegations.

The presiding judge, Dada Oluwaseyi, advised the couple to explore reconciliation.

He then adjourned the case.