Ambrose Alli University Management In A Make or Mar Inquiry
By Wale Abydeen/From Ekpoma// The response of Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki to series of allegations leveled against the management of the state owned university, Ambrose Alli University was the establishment of seven-man Special Visitation Panel.
The governor set up the panel to look into the affairs of the university and report back to the government.
The panel was supposed to submit its finding this week but sought for an extension of time by which the assignment could be concluded.
Priscillia Aziegbemhin, Secretary of the Panel, in a statement on Tuesday, said the extension is due to the state-wide 24-hour curfew imposed by the Government of Edo State, which has now been relaxed. The panel stated that the date for submission of Memoranda has been extended from Monday, 26th October, 2020, to Wednesday, 4th November, 2020.
Members of the panel chaired by panel Prof. I. K. Omoruyi are; Prof. Lawrence Atsegbua, Mrs. M. E. Ohiowele, Roland Ogbebor, Dr. J. O. Okovido, Venerable Osaze Egbenusi, and
Mrs. P. E. Aziegbemhin.Aziegbemhin calls for memoranda from the general public so as to feel their inputs. She urges members of the university management, staff, students and other stakeholders of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma to submit their memoranda to the secretariat of the panel.
According to her “The Memoranda which should be in Soft and ten (10) hard copies, should be submitted to the Secretariat of the Panel, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service, Governor’s Office, Dennis Osadebey Avenue, G.R.A, Benin City, Edo State, on or before 4:00pm, Wednesday, 4th November, 2020.”
The Panel’s terms of reference include to examine the administrative structure of the University in line with the law establishing it, establish the actual student population both regular and non-regular students against the accredited Faculties and Departments and investigate the quality of training programmes in the University especially in relation to standard.
It will also “examine the finances of the University in the area of revenue generation, expenditure transparency, accountability and observance of due process and critically look at the mode of employment and promotions at the University with a view to determining whether due process was observed in the recruitment and promotion and whether the staff strength vis-à-vis the carrying capacity of student’s population of the University is balanced and reasonable.
Other terms of reference include to “look into all issues regarding the implementation of Government directives between the University and members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), look into the future funding for the University in the light of the coronavirus pandemic, and look into any other matter, which in the opinion of the Visitation Panel, is incidental to its assignment.”
SECURITY MONITOR gathers that Prof. Onimawo’s leadership is enmeshed with lots of corruption allegations. The VC was said to have unilaterally approved N30 million to Prof. (Engr) .O. Ordia as palliative.
It was gathers the VC’s refusal to account for the sales of Entrepreneurship books and materials produced.
The Prof. Onimawo’s led AAU is also also alleged to approved of over N90 million Tetfund money to the son of Mr. Oviasu for fellowship in abroad. Oviasu was a former Director of Academic Planning and recently appointed by the Vice-Chancellor.
Prof. Onimawo was alleged of favouritism in making appointments. Some disgruntled members of the management hints SECURITY MONITOR the VC is “found of offering appointment to certain person during the period of financial lockdown without recourse to the University council”.
They alleged that the Vice Chancellor’s repeated disregard and refusal to suspend his personal assistants Mr. Chris OmonpoiIriogbe and Mr. Eugene as was decided by council since the duo were allegedly involved in the abnormal financial transfer on behalf of the University is a pointer to the insinuation that the duo were carrying out his biddings.
The Vice-Chancellor has been accused of over population the college of Medicine admissions (MBBS and Nursing) above the NUC and council quota and refusal to report same to council for over one your running. This has led to the withdrawal of the licence of the department by the Medical and Dental council.
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