The management of Edo State Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, has said that at least 30 students took examinations and graduated from the school while living outside Nigeria in the last two years.
Mr. Austin Osakue, a member of the Special Intervention Team (SIT) of the university, disclosed this last weekend while submitting the progress report of the SIT to Governor Godwin Obaseki at the Government House, in Benin City, the state capital.
SaharaReporters on Sunday reported that the management of the school also dismissed five staff members, with 21 others currently undergoing investigation for various criminal offences.
Osakue said the staff members were dismissed by the Disciplinary Committee of the school.
Osakue, who urged the state government to constitute a Governing Council and begin the process of hiring principal officers for the school, said the work done so far by the SIT will not be appreciated unless the school reviews its enabling laws.
He noted that the school had keyed into the directive of the Edo State Government and commenced the contributory pension scheme which started on August 1, 2023, a statement issued by the media aide to the governor, Crusoe Osagie said.
Osakue said the school discovered “over 30 cases of AAU students living abroad for not less than two years, writing exams and graduating”.
According to him, the staff members and Heads of Departments involved have been handed over to the secret police, Department of State Services and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for further investigation and prosecution.
Governor Godwin Obaseki in his response restated his government’s commitment to restoring the lost glory of the Institution, preparing the tertiary institution for EdoBEST students who will be ready to gain admission into the school in about five to six years.
“We need to clear this school due to the educational reforms we have embarked on as our EdoBEST students will be ready in about five to six years for the University and can’t go into a University whose standard is below where they are coming from.
“Few people have held the Institution to ransom; we are ready to fight and break it. If you are a lecturer and you have examined students and have results and failed to present them, you should not expect a salary because you have not completed your work and if it is based on that you want to go on strike again, we are ready for you.
“It’s a fight that is necessary to transform this Institution for the students coming. All these reforms and sustainability must be anchored on the new reformed law and we will be presenting the University’s new bill to Edo House of Assembly at the end of the month for speedy passage,” Obaseki said.
The Governor further noted that the search for members of the Governing Council will commence immediately, adding, “We will not want to bring in people into the Governing Council without the law in place.
“The Assembly members are here to be part of this event to enable you to have the background to this issue because they will still come to meet you.
“Political interference has brought the school to the position it is today. We are saying it’s time to change because we can’t run a University this way because of the students coming behind. We must make it a first-class university that we all will be proud of. It’s only when you have good institutions that you are sure of development.”
