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  • Ikpeazu urges ABSU grad to look beyond certificates

    The Abia State Governor and visitor to Abia State University at Uturu, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has tasked graduates of the university to look beyond their certificates and be resourceful to be relevant in society.

    Ikpeazu gave the charge while speaking at the 24th convocation of the institution held at the university convocation pavilion.

    The Governor said the said the era of paper certificate had ended, arguing that the present times require that graduates look for avenues to become self reliant instead of depending on the government for jobs which no longer exist.

    He promised to do his best to meet the needs of the institution, announcing that he would donate a 40-seater bus and generator.

    Ikpeazu said he would donate the generator to illuminate the campus at night, encourage students to live on campus and discourage cultism.

    He warned that he would publicise the names of cult members in all institutions in the state.

    In his speech, the Vice Chancellor [VC], Prof Uche Ikonne, announced that the school had gained full accreditation for Science Laboratory Technology and Computer Science.

    Ikonne said a total of 3,561 graduands received first and higher degrees.  Of the 2,956 undergraduate degrees, he said two had First Class; while the remaining 603 received post graduate degrees.

    Four Abians received honorary awards at the event.

    Highlighting some of his achievements, Ikonne said his administration had recorded some gains fighting cultism.  He noted that the school management and security agencies were investigating a cult-related incident that happened near the institutions few weeks ago, adding that some arrests had been made. He also mentioned that proprietors of private students’ hostel and traditional rulers met with the school over measures to check security their hostels.

    As part of the convocation activities, the vice chancellor said there was a security and anti-cult awareness programme for students.

    Ikonne added that the school management has resolved that all cadres of workers and students of the school should swear affidavits that they do not belong to any cult group.

    The VC also said that a special security office has been set up to be manned by the Commandant of the Man’O’war where complaints of intimidation or any form of threat will be reported and investigated.

    Regarding academic activities, the VC said that grants by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) are being used to strengthen research activities in the institution.  Already, he said the university has 13 research topics approved for by the National Universities Commission (NUC), while it has submitted eight research topic to TETFund for higher national research activities.

  • ABSU cult killings: Abia Gov orders auditing of students in off-campus hostels

    ABSU cult killings: Abia Gov orders auditing of students in off-campus hostels

    Following the cruel killing and beheading of two students of the Abia State University, Uturu [ABSU], the state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has ordered all proprietors of commercial hostels around all the campuses in the state to conduct a profiling exercise of all students living in their hostels.

    The exercise, according to the governor, is aimed at determining the status of the students living in such hostels which are scattered around the university and to enable the university management, the state government and security agencies to have the records of the students.

    The directive of the governor, which was contained in statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Godwin Adindu, said that all commercial hostel owners must take responsibility for the students living in such hostels.

    The statement reads in part, “Governor Ikpeazu said, henceforth all proprietors of  commercial  hostels must take responsibility for the activities that take place  in their facilities and this will require that they take interest in the identity, background and profile of the students  living  in their hostels.

    “He directed that the proprietors must conduct regular identity audit of the inmates of the hostels as to be able to ascertain the credibility of the persons in their custody.

    “The governor said that student hostels will no more be operated as a mere business venture available to whomever that can pay the price without having a background check on the students.

    “Investigations have also confirmed that most of the cult attacks are hatched and launched from the off-campus hostels around the universities and polytechnics in most areas with higher institutions in the country.”

    The statement further said that the incident has made Governor Ikpeazu to insist that proprietors of student hostels must change their orientation and ensure that there is some measure of control and regulation, which he said will help in the character development of the students.

    The governor also directed that the profiling exercise should be conducted by the admission office during the admission process, as part of measures to help trace the history of the students and their previous engagements.

    “These measures we are putting in place have become necessary as a step towards combating the culture of terrorism among students and ensure that their lives are secured.”

  • When cultists struck at ABSU

    When cultists struck at ABSU

    Two students of Abia State University (ABSU) in Uturu were beheaded in a cult clash on Uturu-Afikpo Road, an off-campus neighbourhood. UGOCHUKWU UGOJI-EKE reports.

    Chukwuebuka Nwaigbo, a 300-Level Estate Management student of Abia State University (ABSU) in Uturu would have marked his birthday penultimate Sunday. He never had the chance to witness the day. He was killed on the eve of his birthday by cultists, who also severed his head.

    His friend, Samuel Ethelbert, a 300-Level Political Science student, was also killed. His head was also cut off in an evening attack that occurred at Chidoo Lodge on Uturu-Afikpo Road, an off-campus hostel. The third victim, Thankgod Umeaforo, a 300-Level Political Science student, sustained deep machete cut and he is said to be in critical condition in hospital.

    The hostel is about four kilometres from the campus. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that a group of cultists stormed the hostel at 11pm and went to the victims’ room.

    A student, who did not give his name, said: “When the assailants came into the lodge, they looked for someone to knock on the door of their victims. We heard the victims pleading for mercy, but their plea fell on deaf ears.”

    After killing the duo, the cultists severed their heads.  The heads were dumped in front of Pego One Lodge, another hostel.

    It was gathered that the murder was a reprisal by Atabo confraternity whose leader, Collins Kalu (aka Biggy), a final year student of Microbiology, was killed in a shootout by the rival Mafite confraternity in February. The late Samuel and the late Chukwuebuka allegedly belonged to Mafite group.

    The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Uche Ikonne, visited the hostel urging students to be security conscious and shun cultism. He told them to report suspicious movements within the neighbourhood, saying security agencies were on the killers trail. He advised the students to move to the university hostels, instead of living off-campus, saying their security would be guaranteed in the school.

    The incident paralysed activities on campus. Examinations, which were to begin two days after the incident, were postponed. It could not be confirmed if the postponement was connected to the murder. None of the staff was ready to comment.

    The State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Onyeke Udeviotu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the Commissioner of Police had directed the homicide section of the Crime Investigation Department to take up the matter.

    Udeviotu said the attack was suspected to be a reprisal from a rival cult group, pledging that the police would arrest the perpetrators.

    Governor Okezie Ikpeazu condemned the murder, describing it as a “brazen show of savagery”. The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Godwin Adindu said students should not engage in criminal acts that could thwart their academic pursuit and taint their character.

    He said: “Governor Ikpeazu warned that such dastardly acts being perpetrated by students in the name of cultism will no longer be condoned in any of the state-owned higher institutions. Cultism is an illegal practice, which has been outlawed in the state and country.”

    The governor warned criminal-minded youths to stay away from higher institutions in the state, while advising parents and guardians to educate their children on the danger of joining dangerous groups and engaging in violent acts.

  • Govt gives 9 cars to ABSU

    The Abia State governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has donated nine new Hyundai cars to the management of the Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu with the charge that the vehicles should be used to enhance its work.

    Speaking while handing over the keys to the Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof Uche Ikonne, Ikpeazu said that the state government decided to give the vehicles despite the financial challenges of the administration.

    He assured him that the government would empower the university to take care of the students.

    “It is not easy to take care of students.  This is the reason behind our ensuring that necessary materials are given to the management of the university ease their movement to and from classes,” he said.

    Praising the gesture, Ikonne said that the university had never had it so good since inception.  He promised the vehicles would be put to judicious use.

  • Ogah donates auditorium to ABSU

    Academic activities were suspended last Thursday at the Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu as students trooped out to witness the inauguration of a  500-capacity auditorium.

    The facility was built and donated to the university by the President of Masters Energy Group and a governorship aspirant in the state, Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah.

    The ceremony was attended by officials of the state Ministry of Education, principal officers of the school, traditional rulers and various interest groups.

    Ogah also donated a 250Kv generator to power the auditorium, which has an e-library and offices.

    Supporters of Ogah almost turned the campus to a campaign ground, singing his praises.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chibuzo Ogbuagu, hailed the donor, saying the facility would make an impact on users. He said: “I commend the Ogah family for erecting this edifice, which will help us to match our peers in other cities in terms of infrastructure. This gentleman has demonstrated his philanthropy and support for education. He has put his money where it belongs. On behalf of the Governing Council, management, staff and students, I say a big thank you to Dr Ogah.”

    The Pro-chancellor, Senator Ike Nwachukwu, represented by Bishop Sunday Onuoha, urged affluent people in the state to emulate Ogah’s gesture and invest in education. He stressed that improving the quality of education should not be seen as the responsibility of the government alone.

    Ogah thanked the management for giving him an opportunity to give back to the society, noting that he wrote letters to three institutions to site educational projects. He said Prof Ogbuagu was the first to reply him.

    He said: “I was inspired to build this auditorium by my grandfather, who loved education.”

    Highpoint of the event was the inauguration of the facility, which was followed by presentation of gifts to the donor by the management and members of Students’ Union Government (SUG).

    The union president, Israel Ahaemfuna, said: “This wonderful edifice will create an enabling environment for learning. We appreciate the donor on behalf of the students.”

     

  • Orji donates N14m for repairs of burnt university hostel

    Orji donates N14m for repairs of burnt university hostel

    Abia State governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has given out the sum of N14 million cash to the Abia State University, Uturu, to help cushion the effect of last week’s fire that affected female hostel C block of the institution.

    The governor said that out of the N14 million, N10m will be used for the repair of the hostel that was destroyed by fire, while N4 million is to be shared by more than 100 students whose property were consumed by the fire incident.

    Speaking during his visit to the institution to see the extent of damage, the governor said he was duty bound as a father to alleviate the plight of the students having provided them with security and thanked God that no life was lost during the ugly incident.

    The governor said he has ensured that the institution is not starved of funds and has tried to secure accreditation from the National University Council in all courses, stressing that the monthly subvention of the university has been increased since he came into office.

    The Vice Chancellor, Prof Chibuzor Ogbuagu, while conducting the governor round the affected female hostel, had appreciated the governor for always coming to the aid of the institution and urged him not to relent in his aid to the school when the need arises despite the monthly subvention.

    In a vote of thanks, the president, Students Union Government of the university expressed gratitude to the governor for coming to the aid of the students and assured him of their support.

    It could be recalled that last week a female hostel of the Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU) was gutted by fire which also destroyed the property of the final year students, including their final year projects and laptops.

    The fire, which an eye witness said started at about 8pm on Wednesday night gutted two wings of Adanma Okpara Hostel, popularly known as [HOSTEL C] and the adjoining shops and kiosks.

    Though no deaths were recorded, a good number of students received minor burns as they made spirited efforts to retrieve the belongings of their fellow students from the inferno, while others sustained several degrees of injuries while trying to escape from the fire.

  • ‘ABSU alumni align with Senate on Uzor Kalu’

    ‘ABSU alumni align with Senate on Uzor Kalu’

    Abia State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Umeh Kalu, asserts that the Abia State University was right in withdrawing the certificate awarded former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu following his admission in the 2001/2002 academic session, insisting the entire Alumni Association of the university was in support of the cancellation to correct what has been an obvious embarrassment to its members. He spoke with Eddie Onuzuruike and Agamnetochi Onoh

     

     

     

    Abia State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Umeh Kalu, is a man of many parts and was probably prepared for public life as a students’ union activist right from his days at Imo State University, later Abia State University, where he was a pioneer student and first Secretary General. Kalu must have cut his teeth in politics right from then while going ahead to practice and distinguish himself in the process. Even then, just like many radical lawyers in the mold of Gani Fawehinmi, Femi Falana and Olisa Agbakoba, Kalu formed and was involved in associations and movements that fought the cause of the masses.

    It was therefore not unexpected that when Governor Theodore Orji needed young radical minds to work with him, he recruited Kalu into his team and he has not disappointed ever since. Kalu more importantly has remained involved in matters affecting his alma mater where he doubles as the incumbent president of the alumni association. In that capacity, plus his current position as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kalu was caught in the cross fire of taking a position on the issue of certificate withdrawal of former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu by the Abia State University.

    In his interview with a select section of the media, Kalu placed it on record there was no way he was going to remain indifferent to what almost amounts to a scandal going by the controversy it was generating, insisting it was the right thing to do irrespective of when it was done not minding whose ox was gored. According to him, it was sad that the matter was being blown out of proportion when ordinarily it should have been headline news for the institution’s campus bulletin.

    “The disposition of the dramatis personae in the matter, who would want to play politics with every issue, especially through the instrumentality of his newspaper which is always available to him to use as he wishes, appears to be the reason for all these,” Kalu said, referring to Orji Uzor Kalu, again insisting it was the prerogative of every university to issue its certificates to its graduates and deserving persons “on the condition that the awardees have met all conditions in character and learning for the award of such certificates and that the awarding authority could, when it became necessary, review its decision, including that of withdrawing such certificates, especially in circumstances where the certificate was either issued in error or obtained by fraud, undue influence or deceit.”

    Kalu said when the issue came up, he did an independent inquiry and discovered there were series of petitions bordered on the irregularity of the admission: “The petitions bordered on the fact of irregularity in his admission and non- attainment of the mandatory minimum semester work load for the award of a first degree of the university. Let me quickly state here too that this issue of the impropriety of the award of our university degree to Orji Uzor Kalu came up in 2006 during the Alumni First Homecoming at the university auditorium, Uturu in the course of our proceedings.”

    According to him one of the top guns of the alumni association, whom he refused to name, queried the degree awarded by those in charge of the university administration at the time but it was obvious they probably acted to keep their jobs.

    This alumnus, Kalu said, condemned the decision to admit and graduate a sitting governor in the circumstances in which they did. “I am informed that Orji Uzor Kalu did not meet the university’s basic conditions for admission. Secondly, he did not put up minimum academic workload of six semesters for the award of a first degree but only has on record two academic semesters and thirdly, Orji Uzor Kalu did not meet the basic academic requirements on time limit for re-admission into the university for students on transfer as he was alleged to have sought re-admission into Abia State University after having been out of school for over fifteen years, having left the University of Maiduguri in 1984 as against the university’s out of school period of not more than three years.”

    Reminded that this scandal could taint the image of the university if not properly handled, Kalu nodded in the affirmative. According to him, the bulk of the issue rested on the former governor, who he said should prove ABSU wrong by going to another university, meet its requirements, sit for the exams and pass out in flying colours and put to shame those who have decided otherwise regarding his admission irregularities. “Orji Uzor Kalu himself should realise that the Abia State University, being an institution, is bigger than all of us as individuals and will surely outlive us all. There are standards for everything and if one must possess a university degree, he must justify it. Everyone that has gone through universities will vividly recall the workload, deprivations and sleepless nights that are attendant to such acquisition.

    He said a situation where someone will create an atmosphere of glitz, put up one or two appearances in lecture halls for the cameras in a bid to acquire a university degree for whatever purpose is unacceptable, condemnable and even reprehensible,” insisting that pointing fingers in the direction of the Abia State Government was not the solution to the image issue. Kalu added: “We will not allow Orji Uzor Kalu to cheapen the degree of our university.”

    Kalu went ahead to reel out the distinguished members of the alumni association who will not allow this smear of the university’s image to hold. “This is the university that produced Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, present SSG to the Federal Government who is a 1987 set, Barrister Emeka Wogu, present Minister for Labour and Productivity (1986 set), Barrister Chuka Odom, immediate past Minister of State for the FCT (1985 set), Professor Anslem Odinkalu (1987 set), Barrister Chris Okewelonu, former SSG, Imo State (1985 set), Sir Greyne Anosike, Director in the Federal Ministry of Information (1985 set) and so many other distinguished Nigerians including myself who is the present Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abia State. We align ourselves with the decision of the Senate.”

    Is Umeh Kalu also fighting to protect the image of the Abia State Government, which has been in a running battle with Uzor Kalu since he lost his stranglehold on it? He disagreed but was quick to add that there was no correlation between the university’s decision and Uzor Kalu’s political war with the state government. “The university is an independent body from the Government of Abia State. Although a state university, it has a law setting it up, which it must follow and guidelines regulating all activities in the university. There is a University Council that is charged with the general administration of the institution, headed by Senator (General) Ike Nwachukwu as chairman. All academic matters are statutorily regulated by the Senate, which is made up of seasoned academicians.

    If there are political battles to be fought between Orji Uzor Kalu and the present government of Abia State, the terrain for such battles is wide and definitely cannot be the university environment,” he argued.

    Kalu, who acknowledged that the Nigerian media wrote extensively on this subject in 2002, insisted it was not possible for a serving governor to gain a full time admission and pass his examinations because of the burden and demand of governance. He said that if the speculation is true that the Abia State Government had a hand in the withdrawal of the certificate, “it could equally be assumed that Orji Uzor Kalu used undue influence on the authorities to admit him without the requisite qualifications and awarded him a degree of the university without meeting the basic requirements.”

    The Abia State Attorney-General rose to the height of a disciplinarian the way a high court judge would, warning that public officers should be made to know the limits of their powers and that they are accountable for their deeds when in office and even when they are out of office. He stressed: “The best time for him to have sought the said admission either in Abia State University or elsewhere would have been after leaving office just like Chief Sam Onunaka Mbakwe did at the University of Lagos.”

    And what prevents Orji Uzor Kalu from challenging this matter in a competent court of law? Umeh Kalu said it was not unexpected but advised the ex-governor against listening to those seeking to profit from what looks like a good case. “A court action may not be in his interest in this matter as the university will not only join issues with him but may be forced to adduce and produce more damaging evidence that may lie in the realm of criminality in the process. So many persons who played one role or the other from the point of admission till the end game, which is the award of the supposed degree, may be culpable. It is therefore better to rest the matter and not to resurrect it.”

     

  • ABSU rape case: Abia threatens legal action against rumour mongers

    ABSU rape case: Abia threatens legal action against rumour mongers

    Following the alleged false rumours that have been peddled against Abia State Government in recent times, it has warned that it would henceforth take legal actions against any person or group that tries to rubbish its hard- earned reputation.

    Speaking with newsmen in Umuahia, the Chief of Staff (COS) to the Governor, Mr Cosmos Ndukwe, said that media practitioners and media owners who allow their media to be used as a tool of blackmail against the government would no longer be allowed to escape the long arm of the law.

    Ndukwe who was speaking against the backdrop of the vindication of the state government and authorities of Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), by the Police, to the effect that the alleged gang rape of August 2011 did not take place in ABSU, said that government will no longer fold its arms while some people take it to the cleaners.

    The rape was recorded and posted in one of the social media and internet by the rapists after their exploits with a young woman and it was alleged to have been perpetrated by students of ABSU and that the incident also took place at ABSU.

    hen rape case came up both Abia State Government and ABSU authorities, after painstaking investigations, put up a strong denial that the incident never took place in any part of the state neither were the perpetrators students of ABSU, they were accused of shielding the hoodlums.

    But recently, the Police have confirmed that the ugly incident took place at Obite in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State and that the gang rapists were nabbed and are currently facing trail at a magistrate court 9 in Port Harcourt.

    Ndukwe said the unmasking of the rapists has vindicated the claims by Abia State Government that those spreading the rumours then were political foes, who never found anything good that the present administration had been doing since inception.

     

  • ABSU and the revocation of Kalu’s certificate

    ABSU and the revocation of Kalu’s certificate

    The recent revocation of the degree certificate of the former Abia State governor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu by the authorities of Abia State University Uturu, Abia State was not the first of its kind in the country. Before now some universities had after many years of graduation revoked the degree certificates of people whom they discovered that the award of such degrees contravened the laid down procedures for admission and graduation from the universities.

    The university, like any other academic institutions, has the right to revoke the certificate awarded to people, whenever it was discovered that they were wrongly awarded. Nothing stops the authorities from taking such action; not even the number of years such certificates have been awarded. So there is no sentiment in the issuance and revocation of certificate awarded by any institution because every institution has a well laid down law, procedures, rules and regulations guiding admission, academic, non-academic curriculum and graduation from the institution which is being handed over to applicants upon admission.

    Recently, the West African Examination Council (WAEC), after four years, cancelled the certificates of about 200 persons who sat for their examination at Ogudu Senior Grammar School Ojudu GRA Ojota Lagos after discovering that there were irregularities in the award of the certificates. Some of the affected persons are in their final year in universities and the heaven did not fall. What matters most is that the onus lies on the affected persons to prove the authority wrong by providing substantial evidence before the court that the certificates were not wrongly awarded to them. Many had fought such battles in the past. While some lost, others with incontrovertible evidence to substantiate their cases won them.

    As for the case of Kalu and Abia State University authority, the ball is in Kalu’s court to prove the authority wrong by providing substantial evidence before the court to show that he was properly admitted and that he graduated from the university, while in office as governor of the state and visitor to the university.

    Trying to link the revocation to political victimisation by the state government is puerile because the university is made up of renowned professors and academics who are not politicians and who know the implications of revoking a degree after many years of awarding it. Unless Kalu wants the world to believe that he arm-twisted the university authority to award him the degree while in office as the governor even when he knew he did not merit such, he should come clean with the transcript issued to him by the University of Maiduguri which he used for inter-university transfer into the Abia State University and even the O’ level certificate he used to secure admission into the University of Maiduguri in the first place.

    So many things are at stake in this situation that need to be cleared by Kalu if he wants Nigerians to believe him that he is being victimised by the university authority. The university authority in their various advertorials had justified their action based on the law that established the university academic programme; the onus is now on Kalu to prove otherwise. University degree is not a common product that could be easily purchased. It takes time, resources, discipline and hard work for one to acquire it.

    It could be recall that in 2002 when the news broke that Kalu was writing degree examination in Abia State University, Olusegun Adeniyi, the then editor of Thisday wrote an article on the back page of the newspaper titled “Eze Goes To School” where he raised a lot of questions on the propriety of Kalu being a student of ABSU, writing degree examination and at the same time serving as the governor of the state and visitor to the university.

    Adeniyi in the article had asked some pertinent questions such as when Kalu was admitted into the university, his choice of the state university and what time did he has as a governor to attend lectures, even on part-time basis if it is assumed that he was admitted as a part time student. Not many Nigerians took Adeniyi’s fears then very serious, rather he was attacked by Kalu’s media aides.

    From the way the saga is unfolding today, it appears that Adeniyi and other Nigerians who saw the development from his perspectives might be vindicated at the end of the day, unless something otherwise happens to prove the university authority wrong. Accusing the state government of inciting the university to revoke his certificate is nothing but shadow chasing. The situation goes beyond Kalu’s political differences with any body. It is academic matter that should be sorted out academically and legally, not politically.

    Before now prominent Nigerians who were accused of forging certificates or illegally acquiring certificates in the past have taken the matters to court to clear their names. Former Kogi State Governor Ibrahim Idris was once accused of not having school certificate, while being admitted as a law student at University of Abuja. His lawyers took the matter to court and WAEC officials were in court to testify that he obtained a school certificate from a secondary school in Bayelsa State many years ago. Such allegation of certificate forgery was also leveled against Governor Gabriel Suswan of Benue State. Today, Suswan has won the case at High court and the Appeal Court and is ready to meet his accuser at the Supreme Court.

    Kalu and his sympathisers should stop pointing accusing fingers at anybody or group as being responsible for the certificate saga. Rather, they should face the reality by doing everything to clear his name from the mess if he is sure of the genuineness of his admission and graduation from the university. Any other thing contrary is bunkum; not even Barrister Amobi Nzelu’s recent claim that he wanted to go to court for Kalu but was discouraged by a Professor from the university who said it was not necessary. How will Nzelu expect Nigerians to fall for such gimmicks? Or is it that Kalu has no evidence to upturn his revoked degree certificate in court?

    So if Kalu is not sure of himself and does not have enough evidence to challenge the decision in court, he and his allies should keep quiet and accept the decision in good faith. Meanwhile, all eyes are on Kalu to respond to the university’s decision by taking urgent action to redeem his battered image.

    • Dr. Ozoubi wrote Bwari Abuja

  • ABSU withdraws Kalu’s degree certificate

    The Senate of the Abia State University, Uturu, has withdrawn the degree certificate it had earlier awarded the former Governor of the state, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, while he was a sitting governor of the state.

    The decision to withdraw the certificate was contained in statement released and signed by the registrar and secretary of the Senate of the university, Mr. Earnest Onuoha, after the senate meeting, where it was approved that the certificate be withdrawn and cancelled.

    The statement reads in parts, “On the strength of the findings and recommendations of an investigative panel into allegations of breach of the extant Academic Regulations of Abia State University in the admission process of the admission and graduation of Kalu Orji Uzor in the discipline of Government and Public Administration , of matriculation number 00/42226, the Senate of Abia State University at its resumed 69th Extra-Ordinary meeting of Friday, 1st March 2013 and by a vote of eighty-eight (88) against three (3) dissenting voices only, approved the cancellation and withdrawal of the degree result and certificate awarded to him.”

    “The decision of Senate was based on the following grounds among others:

    *The violation of the Academic Regulations of the university on Admission-by-Transfer, which rendered the offer irregular, ab initio.

    *The non-completion of the mandatory six (6) semesters (i.e. three academic years of study), before he was awarded a degree of the university. He spent only two semesters in all.

    “The university Senate maintained that its action, aforesaid, derived from the exercise of its onerous statutory responsibility to guard and maintain, at all times, the Academic Regulations of the University, its hard-earned reputation and the credibility of the certificates it awards.”

    In a related development, the chief press secretary to Abia State governor, Ugochukwu Emezue, has described as untrue the allegation by the former governor of the state, Oji Uzor Kalu that Governor Theodore Orji is behind the revocation of his degree certificate.

    Emezue said that the former governor is not a graduate of Abia State University, as investigations have revealed and made public by the Senate of the university after looking into the findings of the investigative panel set up the university authorities.

    He said that there was a petition against the former governor alleging that he was not properly admitted into ABSU, which the university authorities mandated the Senate to look into after setting up the investigative panel.

    The CPS said that the petitioner claimed that Kalu arm twisted the school authorities to admit him while he was the governor following public outcry then that the state governor was not a graduate, adding that Kalu as the then governor only came to school for two semesters.

    Emezue said, “Following this allegation, the Senate set up a panel which found out that the transcript Kalu sent to ABSU from the University of Maiduguri did not bear the letterhead of that institution.

    “Secondly, Kalu did not matriculate according to the rules and guidelines of the institution which makes it mandatory for a student to matriculate having dropped out from another university.

    “Thirdly, Kalu only came to school for two semesters and never graduated.”

    The chief press secretary stated that ab initio, Kalu was not a graduate of the institution and advised the former governor to go to court to challenge the outcome of the panel’s report if he so desires.