Group urges education minister to reverse VC’s suspension

A coalition of civil society groups has called on the Education minister, Adamu Adamu to reverse the suspension of the vice Chancellor, Federal University, Dutsinma, Katsina state, Prof Haruna Abdu Kaita.

The group in a letter to the minister, a copy of which was made available to reporters enjoined him to investigate the process through which Prof Kaita was suspended whether or not it was in line with established laws.

Prof Kaita was suspended by the university’s governing council following a petition written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by a group, Concerned Indigenes Forum.

The forum in its letter to the EFCC, alleged that the VC’s running of the institution was characterized by “corruption and fraudulent practices”, including alleged award of contract worth millions to his biological son.

Other allegations include purchase of two fairly-used vehicles worth N40 million without following due process, and the illegality of the VC being one of two signatories to the institution’s account.

But the civil rights coalition in the letter signed by its chairman, Muhammad Bishir Usman said the VC was not treated fairly as he was allegedly denied fair hearing by the institution’s governing council.

Usman said the collation carried out its own investigation and found out the governing council that took decision to suspend the VC was illegally constituted.It called on the minister to find out the root cause of the lingering misunderstanding between the Pro-Chancellor and the suspended VC.