The Management of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO) has rejected the alleged appointment of Prof Stephen Obekpa Abah as the acting vice-chancellor.
The Governing Council has also opposed the actions of Dr Nasir S. Gwarzo, the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, who directed the reinstatement of the suspended former Vice-Chancellor, Prof Innocent Ujah.
According to the statement, the announcement regarding Prof. Abah’s appointment, which circulated on social media on November 5, 2024, originated from an unauthorised meeting led by the suspended Vice-Chancellor, Prof Innocent A. O. Ujah.
The university clarified that the meeting notice was issued on the letterhead of the suspended Vice-Chancellor, circumventing established protocols, particularly the Registrar’s role in issuing notices for Senate meetings.
The Registrar, the official Secretary of the Senate under the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (Establishment) Act of 2022, should have been informed about and present at the meeting, highlighting its illegitimacy.
The statement further detailed that coordinated security efforts successfully prevented Prof Ujah’s attempts to enter the G.R.A. Otukpo Campus with armed personnel forcibly.
Despite being denied access, it was reported that Prof. Ujah, accompanied by armed individuals, held a small gathering at the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital Otukpo, where the fraudulent meeting occurred.
This group later issued a misleading statement regarding Prof. Stephen Abah’s appointment, who is reportedly facing a criminal case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Governing Council reaffirmed that Prof. Innocent A.O. Ujah remains suspended and lacks the legal authority to call Senate meetings.
They further stated that Prof. Ediga Bede Agbo is the duly appointed Acting Vice-Chancellor, and his position is secure.
The Council condemned Prof. Ujah’s and his associates’ actions as a breach of university governance that has caused unnecessary turmoil within the academic community.
They urged all staff, students, and community members to disregard any claims made by Prof. Abah and continue their academic and administrative responsibilities as usual.
It is worth noting that following Prof. Ujah’s suspension, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Nasir Gwarzo, issued a letter opposing this action.
In response, the Governing Council maintained that Prof Ujah remains suspended and cannot preside over Senate meetings or appoint a successor.
The Council referenced Section 2 (1)-(3) of the Universities Miscellaneous Act 2003, asserting that the Governing Council is the supreme authority of the university and is responsible for its overall direction and governance. Thus, a letter from the Permanent Secretary must uphold the Council’s decision.
“The directive from the Permanent Secretary represents undue interference in the Council’s activities and an attempt to undermine its authority,” the statement read.
The Permanent Secretary suggested that reinstating the former Vice Chancellor would restore peace on campus, implying awareness of a potential threat to peace that has not materialised. The campus has remained peaceful and celebratory since the former Vice Chancellor’s suspension. The statement called for accountability for any breach of peace that may arise from these actions.
“The Permanent Secretary has failed to assess the current situation at the university, remaining oblivious to the widespread jubilation that followed the suspension of the former vice-chancellor,” it concluded.
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