The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Expulsion

  • ‘Lawyer petitions ministry over children’s ‘expulsion’

    ‘Lawyer petitions ministry over children’s ‘expulsion’

    A  Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dafe  Akpedeye, has urged the Ministry of Education to probe the alleged expulsion of his client’s children from the International Community School (ICS), Abuja.

    The petition was also sent to the United States embassy, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the Council of International Schools.

    The children’s mother, Ms Natasha Akpoti alleged that on April 9, last year, her teenage son and seven of his classmates, during a class project, stumbled on pornographic contents on the computer belonging to the school’s assistant computer teacher.

    According to the petitioner, the boy and his siblings were expelled because the boy reported what he saw to his mother and because she insisted on proper investigation.

    As an elected member of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) executive with a moral obligation, the mother said she decided to bring forward the teacher/porn episode which her son mentioned to her for a lasting and proactive solution.

    She shared the report and expressed concerns as to why the school allegedly failed to put in place safety internet filters to protect the children. Her report, she said, bothered the parents who took the matter up with the school’s management.

    According to Akpoti, the school later sent messages to the PTA members exonerating the teacher, saying he was innocent of the allegations levelled against him.

    Following her demand for justice based on her personal investigations, she said the school’s board of directors, last December 23, sent her a brief mail advising her to withdraw her children from the school, which she refused to do.

    She insisted it would be best to submit the evidence in her possession to relevant regulatory bodies for a fair investigation.

    Matters, she said, got to a head when on January 5, the children were expelled from the school.

    Akpedeye questioned the school’s investigation of the incident, and wondered why three innocent children, two of who had nothing to do with the case, should be expelled for speaking up against a moral wrong while the teacher remains allegedly unpunished.

    He added that no child deserves to suffer retribution leading to public ridicule and physiological trauma simply for exposing a school’s “error”.

    “In retrospect, rather than expelling the child, he should have been applauded for his courage because his singular act, which enunciates the various International Children Internet Protection Laws, has saved a lot of ICS children from harmful online content and abuse within the school premises,” the SAN said.

    But the school, through its legal counsel Mr. Isaac Okpanachi, said although there was indeed a pornography information on the school’s computer, it was a device used by both students and teachers and so it was difficult to know how the material got into the system.

    ICS said: “The management has strengthened controls on the computers by ensuring that such sites are blocked. No student is allowed to use any computer except with the permission and under the strict supervision of a teacher.

    “It should be noted that as per the ‘evidence’ which was much later handed over to the school, the times and dates shown did not correspondent with any particular teacher’s presence in the school.”

    ICS management said the petitioner’s children were not expelled.

    “Ms Akpoti’s children were never expelled from the school. She had not paid any fees for them for that quarter (terms) and still had outstanding fees for the previous quarter. Also, she was threatening to take the school to court and before ‘other bodies’ because she was not satisfied with our investigations, claiming it (sic) was sweeping the matter under the carpet.

    “In view of this and statements she mailed to the PTA, expressing her dissatisfaction with the school, the board of directors wrote to her advising her to keep the children at home until these issues were addressed,” the school said.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Why our expulsion cannot stand, by Amaechi’s loyalists

    Why our expulsion cannot stand, by Amaechi’s loyalists

    oyalists of Rivers State Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi and functionaries of the state government have dismissed their expulsion from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Rivers PDP chairman Felix Obuah on Monday announced the expulsion of 18 members, most of them officials of the state government and a former Deputy national chairman of the party for failing to appear before a performance-assessment panel to defend their stewardship. Amaechi himself is currently on suspension by the party.

    Those expelled include: Secretary to the State Government (SSG), George Feyii; the Chief of Staff, Chief Tony Okocha; a former Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Sam-Jaja; and the Administrator of the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPHCDA), Mrs. Aleruchi Cookey-Gam.

    The expelled commissioners are Victor Giadom (Works), Augustine Wokocha (Power), Worgu Boms (Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice), Joe Poroma (Social Welfare and Rehabilitation), Ezemonye Ezekiel Amadi (Lands and Survey), Fred Igwe (Sports), Emmanuel Chinda (Agriculture), Joeba West (Women Affairs), Patricia Simon Hart (Water Resources and Rural Development), Okey Amadi (Energy), Charles Okaye (Chieftaincy Affairs), Dr. Nnabuihe Imegwu (Culture and Tourism), Ibim Semenitari (Information and Communications) and Samuel Eyiba (Local Government).

    Giadom, said only the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP could expel public officers.

    He said Obuah and his associates did not understand the importance of party politics.

    “They need to go back and understand that the calibre of people they claimed to have expelled from the PDP will enable PDP succeed in this state.

    “The constitution is clear on public officers. It is only the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party that can decide my fate.

    “I will not even believe what they have done. I will sleep well. I will not even remember that they have done anything, because I know it will not see the light of the day.

    “You do not expect something that is opposite the law to survive. Our expulsion will start and end at Aba Road (Rivers PDP secretariat in Port Harcourt).

    A PDP chieftain, Adokiye Oruwari, who is a lawyer said the leadership of the ruling party had not been communicating with its members.

    Oruwari noted that the expelled eminent persons could have either been reached by phone or in writing.

    A former member of the House of Representatives, Lasbry Amadi, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to quickly intervene in the deepening crisis.

    Amadi said: “I look at a lot of things happening in this party (PDP) as arrant nonsense. One can always say that this is an acculturation. Something that you borrow and begin to learn. A culture where things are said, actions are taken, without people thinking about the imminent result.

    “It is a very big surprise. It is something that is completely condemnable. The PDP had a serious issue bigger than this, especially when I was in the National Assembly. What I am seeing today is completely different.

    “A situation where this Rivers state continues to give the highest vote to the PDP and today, the party is treating the state in this manner. I do not really know whose interest anybody is serving.

    Counsel to Amaechi and the 27 members of the House of Assembly loyal to him (Amaechi) in the on-going political legal battles, Emenike Ebete, dismissed the expulsion as unconstitutional, null and void.

    Ebete told our reporter in an exclusive interview in Port Harcourt that the case between Amaechi and the Evaluation and Performance committee is before a state High court in Port Harcourt presided over by Justice Silverlyn Iragunuma , prior to the announcement of the purported expulsion and suspension of the members.

    He said the court had already granted Amaechi the leave sought to serve all processes of his ex parte application on the PDP national secretariat by registered post while that of the state PDP should be served by pasting.

    Ebete explained that the suit before Justice Iragunuma, (a vacation court), was the same suit in which the governor, members of the National Assembly from the state, 27 members of the state Assembly, and Council chairmen are seeking an injunction to stop the Evaluation committee from assessing them.

    Justice Godspower Aguma on August 21, dismissed the application based on the preliminary objection by the defendants that the court lacks jurisdiction to interfere in the internal affairs of the party.

    Aguma held that “once a public officer is elected and sworn the oath of office, he/she no longer represents the interests of the party or any platform in which he was elected but the people, and as a result it becomes the responsibility of the people to evaluate his/her performances and not the party.”

    The PDP, the nation learnt, has appealed the decision of the court, while Amaechi refilled the suit before the vacation court.

    He expressed the hope that when the suit is heard, the errors would be corrected and the expulsion and suspension would be set aside, and those affected re-integrated.

    “Assuming that they people they purported to have expelled and suspended actually did contravene the party constitution, does the evaluation committee have the right to carry out any actions against these persons?

    Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly Leyii Kwanee called for the intervention of the party’s national secretariat in the expulsion of the 18 members. Kwanee said this became imperative owing to the manner the party is being destroyed in the state.

    The deputy speaker said “what is happening in the state is a grand design by the opposition party, which has used its top notchers to infiltrate the PDP and incapacitate it.”

    To buttress his point, he cited instances of Dr.Abiye Sekibo and Jerry Needam who hitherto were in Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and were strong critics of PDP but now deciding and speaking for the PDP.

     

     

     

  • CAF Confederation Cup: ‘3SC not responsible for Rangers’ expulsion’

    CAF Confederation Cup: ‘3SC not responsible for Rangers’ expulsion’

    The management of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan has absolved the club of blame for Rangers International’s disqualification from the CAF Confederation Cup.

    Rangers were booted out of the tournament by the CAF for fielding an ineligible player (Emmanuel Daniel) in the two-leg play-off against Club Sportif Sfaxien of Tunisia. The Tunisian side will now replace Rangers in Group A of the competition.

    In a release made available to SportingLife, the club said it intended to put the records straight with facts and figures so as to clarify its role in the matter, because an attempt had been made by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), League Management Company (LMC) and Rangers to put the blame on the doorsteps of the “Oluyole Warriors”.

    The letter read: “It is instructive to state that there was never a time 3SC wrote directly or indirectly to CAF about Emmanuel Daniel’s case till date. 3SC got to know about Daniel’s case with CAF when the NFF forwarded a letter written by CAF to its (3SC) e-mail box. The said letter was a response to the document on the player (Emmanuel Daniel) earlier sent by the NFF to CAF.

    “In the said letter forwarded to 3SC, NFF requested us (3SC) to furnish them with all documents relating to the contract of Emmanuel Daniel, which the team promptly responded to within few hours of receipt of the letter. It is worthy of note to inform Nigerians that 3SC forwarded three letters between May 20 and June 11, 2013 to NFF and LMC on this issue, but no response was received on it.

    “An official of the NFF, who stated that it was 3SC that contacted CAF, and that Rangers fielded Emmanuel Daniel against Sunshine Stars, Heartland and 3SC in the on-going Glo Premier League without protest, is being economical with the truth, because 3SC played the said match under protest. The protest letter was acknowledged by the Match Commissioner, Mr. E.E.E. Ebito, who included it (the protest letter) in his match report. A Copy of 3SC’s protest that was acknowledged by the Match Commissioner is also attached for ease of reference.”

    The Ibadan-based side also denied collecting gratification of US$60, 000.00 from CS Sfaxien of Tunisia over the issue. The letter continued: “On the allegation that an official of 3SC received gratification of US$60, 000.00, it behooves on the party making the allegation to prove it.

    “It should be recalled that last year’s football season ended on 7th September, 2012 and Emmanuel Daniel renegotiated to play with 3SC in the new season (2012/2013), and on that premise, collected his October, 2012 salary before taking permission to visit his family in Kaduna.

    “Shortly afterward, Rangers wrote in November, 2012 informing us that Emmanuel Daniel is with them and they would need his service, for which we asked them to come and negotiate.”

  • Party re-affirms expulsion of 13 members in Oyo

    The Action Alliance (AA) in Oyo State has re-affirmed the expulsion of 13 members for anti-party activities.

    The party re-affirmed this at a congress held in Ibadan, the state capital.

    The expelled members were found guilty of anti-party activities by the state congress held on November, 19, 2011 and were recommended for expulsion to the party’s National Secretariat.

    The approval of the expulsion was conveyed in a December 12, 2011, letter by AA’s National Chairman, Senator Suleiman Salawu, to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State.

    The State Chapter, in a March 20, 2013 letter to the State Security Service (SaSS) and another letter dated March 23 to the REC, alleged that the expelled members were impersonating the Executive.

    AA urged the SSS to stop the former members from misinforming the public.

    At its congress at the weekend, the party produced a new Executive Committee.

  • Controversy trails varsity’s expulsion of 28 students

    The expulsion of 28 students by Redeemer University for allegedly failing drug tests has sparked a big row.

    The tests, The Nation learnt, were conducted last November for 42 students, who were asked to go for “routine tests”.

    After resumption this year, some of them were told that they “tested positive” and last Friday, some of those who “tested positive” got expulsion letters; others got theirs on Monday.

    The institution’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Adetunji Adeleye, said the decision was taken in line with the school’s values and philosophy “to raise godly children”, but the students are alleging unfairness.

    Adeleye said: “A student was caught with an illicit drug. He mentioned others involved and we took them to the school clinic for tests. Some of them tested positive.”

    But some of the affected students said the university authority never told them the purpose of the test and did not show them the results.

    “I only saw in the expulsion letter that I tested positive to hard drugs. I asked for the result of the test, but they didn’t show me. Even if they won’t show it to me, they should at least show my parents the result,” said one of the expelled students, who preferred anonymity.

    The affected students complained about the expulsion and the fact that they were not given a fair hearing.

    “They should have at least set up a panel of enquiry and if the panel finds us guilty, so be it,” another student said.

    On the results of the tests, Mr. Adeleye said: “There is no need to show the students the results because the university cannot conspire against them.”

    Adeleye defended the institution’s decision, saying the expelled students are guilty–in line with the school’s religious norms.

    He said: “Nobody should think anybody hates those students. It’s not spurious. In fact, it is even painful for us because we are losing revenue by sending them away. But it’s a painful decision we must take in our quest to raise students that will transform the world. The expelled students are those that refused the university’s lifeline of a second chance.

    “We wanted to help them. The university has a programme designed to help them live a normal life, but they rejected the offer. A few of them accepted and they are undergoing the programme.”

    Adeleye was evasive when asked if the school’s clinic was capable of testing urine samples for hard drugs.

    On why the students were not handed over to the narcotics agency since their offence was a criminal act, Adeleye said the school was neither the police nor the narcotics agency and had no reason to do so.

    He later told The Nation that the Vice-Chancellor was considering a review of the matter.

  • Expulsion fever hits Ekiti varsity

    Expulsion fever hits Ekiti varsity

    Students of Ekiti State University (EKSU) have been asked to undergo screening as a pre-condition for their re-admission following the protest that led to the school’s closure. OLATUNJI AWE (200-Level Political Science) writes that some students are yet to meet the requirement.

     

    Students of Ekiti State University (EKSU) resumed last December after two-month closure because of violent demonstration. They were directed to undergo a compulsory screening to facilitate their re-admission. Any student, who missed the screening, will be expelled, the management warned.

    About three weeks after the school re-opened activities, students were directed to go on Yuletide break. A fortnight ago, they returned from Christmas holiday but academic activities are yet to start.

    The screening is still on for students, who have not paid their school fees. The screening was conducted throughout December and is still on. Many students have been screened; some are yet to be screened because they could not meet up with the major requirement which is the full payment of school fees, among others.

    Students who have not been screened gave several reasons for not paying the fee. A student, who simply identified herself as Tolu, said: “Honesty, I had the complete money with me before the school was closed down after riot. But I spent N20,000 out of the money when we were sent home, hoping to make it up later. But, here I am; my fate as a student is hanging in the balance. I hope this does not fall back on me.”

    A student from the Department of Geology said: “I have not been able to meet up with the screening condition because of my personal problem. My mother has been hospitalised for several months now. She is all I have and nobody is willing to help us. I used part of my school fee to buy drugs and pay for bed space in hospital. I implore our amiable Vice-Chancellor to be lenient, so that people like me won’t be unjustly expelled from the university.”

    The expulsion fear heightened last week when the management pasted the picture of a student, who was expelled for phone theft. The dismissed student, was alleged to have been a member of a cult group on campus, and also an unrepentant phone thief, whose victims were said to be female students and freshers.

    Students praised the management on his expulsion, saying it was long overdue. Ibijola Alade said: “This guy has tormented the school and its environs; we are happy that he is finally out of the university. We urge the management to fish out other criminals walking freely on campus.”

    A 300-Level Agricultural Science student, who identified himself as Shinayo, said: “This is just the beginning to the end of cultism on the campus. We expect more of this from the management.”

    His dismissal is a bold move to reduce theft on campus, Adetona Adedara, a student, said. He added: “The expulsion of the phone thief by the management should be a signal for those that are yet to do screening. They must be concerned because the management may carry out its threat that 10,000 students might be shown the way out as a result of not participating in the screening.”

    An anonymous student said if the management was sincere about stoppingstealing and cultism on campus, it must identify criminals that perpetrated September last year crisis, which led to the school’s closure. “I am sure they know them. The dimissed student only stole a phone, why did they not suspend him to serve as punishment for such light crime?”