Prof. Stephen Obekpa Abah’s purported appointment as acting Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO), has been turned down by the institution’s management.
The Federal Ministry of Education’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Nasir S. Gwarzo, ordered the reinstatement of Prof. Innocent Ujah, the suspended Former Vice Chancellor, a move that the Governing Council has also resisted.
The statement claims that an unauthorized meeting chaired by suspended Vice Chancellor Prof. Innocent A. O. Ujah was the source of the announcement about Prof. Abah’s appointment that went viral on social media on November 5, 2024.
The institution explained that in order to get around established procedures—specifically, the Registrar’s responsibility to notify the Senate of meetings—the meeting notice was sent on the suspended Vice-Chancellor’s letterhead.
The meeting’s illegitimacy should have been brought to the attention of the Registrar, who is the Senate’s official secretary under the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (Establishment) Act of 2022.
According to the statement, Prof. Ujah’s attempts to forcibly enter the G.R.A. Otukpo Campus with armed people were thwarted by concerted security measures.
This group later released a false statement regarding the appointment of Prof. Stephen Abah, who is allegedly facing a criminal case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Governing Council reiterated that Prof. Innocent A.O. Ujah is still suspended and does not have the legal authority to call Senate meetings.
Furthermore, they stated that Prof. Ediga Bede Agbo is the duly appointed Acting Vice-Chancellor and his position is secure.
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 took place.
As a violation of university governance that has unnecessarily agitated the academic community, the Council denounced the acts of Professor Ujah and his colleagues.
They advised all community members, employees, and students to ignore any assertions made by Professor Abah and carry on with their regular administrative and academic duties.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Nasir Gwarzo, the Permanent Secretary, wrote a letter protesting Prof. Ujah’s suspension. The Governing Council retorted that Prof. Ujah is still suspended and is unable to chair Senate sessions or designate a replacement.
The Council asserted that the Governing Council is the highest authority of the institution and is in charge of its general direction and governance, citing Sections 2 (1)–(3) of the Universities Miscellaneous Act 2003. Therefore, the Permanent Secretary must support the Council’s decision in a letter.
“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 implied awareness of a potential threat to campus peace that has not yet materialized when he claimed that the former Vice Chancellor’s reinstatement would bring peace back.
Since the old vice chancellor was suspended, the campus has remained calm and joyous. Accountability for any potential breach of peace resulting from these actions was demanded in the statement.
“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.
