Professor Innocent Ujah, VC, FUHSO
By TYAV SAM TYAV, Makurdi –
Following the suspension of Professor Innocent Ujah as the Vice Chancellor Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo (FUHSO), a group called Concerned Idoma Unity Forum has faulted the action of the Governing Council accusing them of not following the stipulated guidelines in the University Act on the removal of a substantive VC.
The Governing Council of the university on Tuesday suspended the substantive VC and appointed Professor Ediga Agbo as the acting Vice Chancellor of the university.
A statement which was signed by Mr James Onogwu, Coordinator, Information, Publication and Public Relations, of FUHSO, Mr James Onogwo for the Registrar had informed that Prof. Ediga Agbo emerged acting Vice Chancellor of the University during the special meeting of the Governing Council.
According to the university spokesman , the emergency meeting was headed by the Pro Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of FUHSO, Engr. Ohieku Muhammed Salami.
Prof Agbo, the statement stated, is a Professor of Microbiology a native of Otukpo local government, Benue State. Prof Ediga Agbo has already assumed duty as the acting VC of FUHSO for a period of six months.
Disturbed by that development a group under the auspices of Idoma Unity Forum has faulted the suspension of the VC.
It could be recalled that the Pro- Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council and Members, earlier in that meeting suspended the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Innocent Ujah, mni, , for alleged gross misconduct disregard to its authority.
A statement by Forum Chairman Mr Agada Johnson said the suspension of pioneer Vice Chancellor orchestrated by the chairman of the governing council was not in the best interest of the University and Idoma nation as due process was not follow .
The statement according to the forum noted that section 2AAA of the University Act passed by National Assembly in 2003 stipulated that the Vice Chancellor can be removed by the Visitor after due consultation with Council and Senate acting through the Minister of Education.
The Vice Chancellor, the statement insisted could be removed on grounds of misconduct or inability to discharge the function of the office through a proposal of removal and a joint committee of Council and Senate shall be constituted with three members which according to them was not done in this case.
While admitting that Prof Agbo was qualified to be appointed as acting VC, the forum added that “we are seeing a serious fault line which has to be corrected because an injustice done to one is an injustice done to all. Why was the VC suspended without giving opportunity to defend himself and was indeed far away in South Korea on a national delegation”
The group expressed displeasure over downplaying laid down rules by the Council mitigated a deepening sense of disillusionment among stakeholders, and commended the pioneer VC for showing unwavering commitments in pioneering the fast growing Medical University in Idoma land from the foundation along with his management team.
