Cross River State governor Bassey Otu has ordered the immediate stoppage of all unauthorised ongoing building construction work on University of Cross River State (Uncross) land in Calabar pending the outcome of an investigation of their status by the government.
The governor gave the order shortly after carrying out an on-the-spot assessment and verification of alleged illegal encroachment of the university land by unauthorised persons and alleged irregular auctioning of assets belonging to the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) by members of the immediate past Governing Council, Tuesday.
The state government, acting on multiple petitions on the matter Tuesday, began an investigation into the alleged criminal act accusing members of the Governing Council of violating procurement laws by secretly selling off public properties to themselves.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Asset Management and Recovery, Barr Gilbert Agbo acting on the directive of the state governor, had on March 19 issued a directive to the university management demanding urgent review of the sale of all properties belonging to the school.
The management of the institution was also requested to within seven working days produce a full list of all auctioned assets, official approval and Governing Council resolutions related to the sale.
Agbo, who was in company with the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Economic Matters and other members of the committee as well as the Vice Chancellor of Uncross, Prof Francesca Bassey, during the tour bemoaned the massive looting and encroachment into the university land by unauthorised persons and vowed to not only recover such land but also ensure that the perpetrators don’t go unpunished.
In a remark, the Vice Chancellor of Unicross, Prof Francesca Bassey thanked Governor Bassey Otu for his support for the institution and his passion to protect the university property.
She lamented that overtime encroachers had turned the university premises to a thorough fare thereby exposing the institution to security risk. She however pledged her support for the asset management and recovering committee.
In a related development, the Cross River State House of Assembly Wednesday recommended the immediate suspension of Dr Emmanuel Ettah, Dr John Inah Ukam, Professor Mathew Nsing Ogar and Professor Stephen Ochang, members of the 5th Governing Council of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) for alledged misconduct and abuse of office.
The House had deliberated on a petition by A. B. Cobham and Associates ( legal practitioners, Corporate and Real Estate Consultants) solicitors to Mr Emmanuel Eyo, the petitioner.
Opening debate on the petition, the Leader of the House and member representing Odukpani State Constituency, Rt Hon Francis Bassey Asuquo, drew the attention of members to the allegations of gross misconduct against; Dr Emmanuel Ettah, Dr John Inah Ukam, Prof Mathew Nsing Ogar and Prof Stephen Ochang during their tenure as members of the 5th Governing Council of UNICROSS.
The allegations, as stated in the petition include; Illegal tenure extension and unlawful sale of university property. The petition indicates that, Dr. Emmanuel Ettah and co refused to vacate office at the expiration of their tenure in September 2023 and also sold university property between May and August 2024, almost a year after the expiration of their tenure.
The petition also emphasised that the auctioning of university equipment was in total violation of the Public Procurement Act and Bureau of Public Procurement. The lawmakers, in their seperate contributions, while deliberating on the petition, viewed the action of Dr Emmanuel Ettah and Co as a total violation of the Extant Laws establishing the University.
They further stressed that the State Government’s policy on non extension of tenures by public officers is still in force and emphasised that the continued stay in office of the council members after the expiration of their tenure is illegal.
They thereafter adopted the resolution moved by the Leader, Rt Hon Francis Bassey Asuquo(Odukpani ) and seconded by the Deputy Leader Rt Hon Davies Etta(Abi) which states in part; “having unanimously agreed, the House recommends the immediate suspension of Dr Emmanuel Ettah, Dr John Inah Ukam, Professor Mathew Nsing and Professor Stephen Ochang. They are to be suspended from all activities of the University until proper investigation is carried out by the House Committee on Judiciary, Public Service Matters, Public Petitions and Conflict Resolution.”
