September 17, (THEWILL) – The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Professor Florence Obi, says there is no court injunction against the activities of the investigative panel against Professor Ndifon.
She also disclosed that due process has been followed so far in the actions taken by the institution against the embattled former Dean.
Professor Ndifon, the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law of the institution had instituted a legal action against the university at the Industrial Court, Calabar.
In the originating summons marked NICN/CA/42/2023 he alleged breach of his fundamental human rights and failure of the institution in following the laid down rules of the institution.
Professor Obi insisted that by setting up a fact-finding panel, the management of the institution was giving Professor Ndifon an opportunity to defend himself.
“We have followed all laid down processes as stipulated by the laws of the university of Calabar in this matter.
“We set up an investigative panel, which is for fact finding, it is not a disciplinary panel that should try staff and there are different procedures in the trial of a staff.
“The best you can do for a member of staff is to set up an investigative panel which is what we have done. If we believed so much what the students alleged, we would have sent him to a disciplinary panel.
“We thought we were giving our colleague an opportunity to come before the panel and say his own story and the DVC chairs the disciplinary panel.
“From the fact-finding panel, we will get to the disciplinary panel, so these are Procedural processes. we have not violated any due process and will not violate any”, she said.
She added that there is no injunction from the court against the activities of the panel and so the panel is still sitting.
In a viral audio purported to emanate from Uju Kennedy, the Minister of Women Affairs, Obi said that they did not consider it expedient to respond to the disturbing statement by the minister in the audio.
She explained that students of the law faculty wrote and submitted a petition and protested against the suspended Dean and those who testified before the panel were not promoted by anyone.
They added that the management of the institution is resolved to remain focused on doing the right thing and carrying out an objective and comprehensive investigation.
THEWILL reports that the panel, which was initially given two weeks, has had its time extended by another two weeks so as to complete its assignment.
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
