The Akwa Ibom State University has expelled a final year student of the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Ekpo Iniobong Isang over a Facebook post that is said to be in criticism of the state governor, Udom Emmanuel.
According to reports, the student had made a post via his Facebook page reminding Governor Udom Emmanuel that he is yet to redeem his pledge of employing first class graduates of the institution as well as giving them N100,000 each, as promised. He was suspended on September 7th, 2020 on grounds of “gross misconduct”.
But in a letter dated 9th April 2021, and signed by John E. Udo, the registrar of the school, the university announced the expulsion of the student for the same “gross misconduct” which they said, “constitutes a breach of the Matriculation Oath.” The university's chief security officer was directed to deny Isang access to the institution.
Consequently, Isang has sued the university for wrongful expulsion and has demanded that his status as a student be reinstated with the payment of the sum of N20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira) as general damages for the gross breach of his fundamental rights and the resultant trauma and depression he has suffered.
