The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has asked the National Universities Commission (NUC) The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has asked the National Universities Commission (NUC) to institute an independent investigation into the reported assault, torture, and degrading treatment of Miss Divine by officials of Coal City University, Enugu State.

It also urged for the immediate reversal of the one-year suspension imposed on her by the University, saying the actions appears punitive, retaliatory, and unjustifiable in the circumstances.

Divine, a 300- level Physiotherapy student was recently assaulted over issues yet to be established. A viral video had circulated on the social media showing the encounter, even as th school has reportedly refused to react to the incident.

Expressing concern over the reports and video evidence, RULAAC in a statement by it’s Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma said it is disturbing and raise serious questions about respect for human rights, student welfare, institutional accountability, and regulatory oversight within private universities in Nigeria.

Nwanguma said that no educational institution, regardless of its ownership status, possesses the authority to subject any student to physical assault, torture, degrading treatment, humiliation, or other forms of cruel and inhuman punishment.

” Such conduct constitutes a clear violation of Section 34(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), which guarantees the dignity of the human person and prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment. It also violates Nigeria’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other international human rights instruments”, RULAAC said

The group was particularly alarmed that instead of investigating and sanctioning those allegedly responsible for the assault, “the university reportedly imposed a one-year suspension on the victim while also suspending for six months two other female students whose only apparent offence was recording and preserving evidence of the incident. Such actions send a dangerous message that victims and whistleblowers will be punished while perpetrators are protected”.

The statement continued: “Equally disturbing are allegations that students in the Physiotherapy Department have paid substantial tuition and other mandatory fees despite being deprived of adequate teaching services due to the prolonged absence of lecturers allegedly resulting from unpaid salaries. Reports indicate that only one lecturer has been available to teach students registered for multiple courses during the semester. If established, this raises serious concerns about academic standards, student welfare, consumer protection, and regulatory compliance.

“Furthermore, allegations that students have continued to pay for transportation services that were unavailable, and that other categories of students have been compelled to pay fees for academic and clinical postings that were not provided, deserve urgent investigation by the relevant authorities.

RULAAC called on Minister of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to direct the immediate lifting of the six-month suspensions imposed on the two students who recorded the incident and thereby helped preserve evidence of an alleged violation of human rights.

‘Investigate allegations concerning unpaid lecturers, disruption of academic activities, inadequate teaching arrangements, and possible breaches of accreditation and quality assurance requirements.

” Investigate allegations relating to fees collected from students for services that were not provided, including transportation and clinical posting arrangements, and ensure appropriate remedial measures where necessary”, it said, assuring it’s support to the victims.