UNIUYO ALUMNI: COURT NULLIFIES DISSOLUTION
A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo has declared the purported dissolution of Emmanuel Hogan led executive council of University of Uyo Aumni Association as illegal, null, void and unconstitutional.
The court has also sacked the caretaker executive leadership of Professor Gabriel Umoh while it restored Hogan’s leadership of the Association. The court further directed that Hogan’s led executive should complete the term in office as provided in the Association’s constitution.
Delivering judgment yesterday, Justice I. L. Ojukwu, frowned at the action of Board of Trustee, BOTs, of the Association. She noted that the BOT breached Article 4 of the Association’s constitution by dissolving the executive midway into their term in office.
The Sensor learnt that the Emmanuel Hogan’s led executive was elected on October 12, 2012 but barely two years into their four year tenure, the BOTs members led by Professor Akpan Ekpo conspired with the management of the university under the watchful eyes of the immediate past vice chancellor, professor comfort Ekpo, dissolved the legally elected executive and set up a caretaker committee.
This, it was further learnt, forced the elected executive to approach the court to enforce their constitutional rights.
Reacting to the judgment, Counsel to the applicant, Barr. Augustine Ekpo said that the victory of his client was victory against the illegality that the BOTs embarked on.
Ekpo who expressed optimism that the present Vice Chancellor who himself is a barrister would respect the court’s judgment, said that should the BOTs or University of Uyo management fail to abide by the judgment of the court, his client will go back to court to enforce the judgment.
Also reacting, Counsel to the defendant, Barr. Iteshi said that while the court has taken its decision, his client will abide by it.
He however explained that there are options opined to his client and that his client will react appropriately on getting the copy of the judgment.
“We are law abiding citizens and we hold the court in a very high esteem. Regarding the judgment, my client will study it and take a decision whether to proceed to a higher court”
Iteshi regretted that the court failed to take cognizance of the fact that his clients were sued in the capacity that they ought not to have been sued as according to him, that capacity was not recognized by law.
Speaking with newsmen in a press conference shortly after the court restored him and members of his executive, the national chairman of University of Uyo Alumni association, Mr. Emmanuel Hogan said the “court has once again presented itself as the last hope of the common man”
He expressed gratitude to God for using the Federal High court to set aside the obnoxious and repugnant attempt by the former VC in collaboration with the Prof. Akpan Ekpo led BOTs to truncate that mandate that the alumni gave them.
He said, “the dethronement of Prof. Comfort Ekpo’s act of illegality and rascality by a competent court of law, is no doubt the enthronement of justice and fairplay. This is not victory for anyone; it is victory for our beloved Alma Mater”. He added that the executive council under the leadership will do everything humanly possible to take the Alumni to greater height.
Another member of the Association’s executive, Ifeanyi said now that the case has been laid to rest, iIt is time for members of the association to join hands together to move the university to the next level.
On his part, Mr. Sunday Umanah said that the judgment has given members of the association justice. Justice Umanah, who is the chapter chairman of UNIUYO Alumni Association condemned the unconstitutional action of the BOTs in the first instance.
He thanked God that justice has finally been done to the association.
(Culled from The Sensor Newspaper)