The members of the Academic Staff Union Universities, ASUU, of the University of Benin Chapter are protesting against the action of the State Government to demolish the buildings in the Staff Quarters of the institution which according to information was a government reservation given to the institution by then Mid-West Governor of Bendel, Brigadier General Samuel Ogbemudia.
It was learnt that the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Osayuki Oshodin was sent packing at about 6pm on 7th January, 2015 when the demolition squad pulled down part of the building in the official residence that he was occupying.
The Edo state government and the University of Benin had been locked in a legal battle over the ownership of the said properties.
Commenting on this, the Edo state Chairman of ASUU, Dr Anthony Monye Emima, frowned at the action of the state government.
According to him “The University has appealed the court ruling the judgment and hearing was fixed for this January but because of the strike by judicial strike and even with the stay of execution they refused to obey. The government is in a hurry probably because they have shared the properties among themselves and the people to whom they have shared these properties are itching to take possession but rather than do this in civilized and proper manner they are resorting to thuggery.
Reacting to this, the Edo state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Hon Henry Idahagbon, said “we did not demolish UNIBEN properties, we only took possession of Edo state government properties based on a court judgment of December 18, 2014.
