VC tussle: Medical association sues UNIZIK, others
The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has filed a lawsuit against Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, and other parties, contesting the appointment of the institution’s next vice chancellor (VC).
The plaintiffs in the case include the Incorporated Trustees of MDCAN at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) and Dr. Victor Modekwe. They have asked the court to issue a perpetual injunction barring Prof. Carol Umobi or anyone else from assuming the role of VC at NAU, Awka, Anambra State.
Filed under case number NICN/ABJ/383/2024, the suit further seeks to prevent the university, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and the Federal Ministry of Education from recognizing any appointee, including Prof. Umobi, as the legitimate vice chancellor.
Other respondents named in the lawsuit include the university’s Governing Council, Prof. Umobi, and the acting Registrar, Mr. Victor Modebelu.
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The plaintiffs, through their lawyer, J.I. Ekeoma, issued a letter on October 25 to Prof. Umobi and the university, emphasizing the need to maintain the status quo pending the resolution of the legal proceedings. The letter provided a detailed account of events leading up to the suit, alleging that the selection process unfairly discriminated against Dr. Modekwe and other professionals from the medical and dental fields.
The plaintiffs claimed that the university council published an advertisement on September 12, 2024, in Vanguard Newspaper, outlining requirements they argue were designed to exclude candidates from the Faculties of Medicine and Basic Clinical Sciences from applying for the VC position.
The plaintiffs also asserted that when MDCAN challenged the exclusion, the university advised the association to seek clarification from the NUC regarding whether a medical fellowship could be considered equivalent to a Ph.D. for the purpose of eligibility.
The lawyer representing the claimants stated that despite several appeals, the university continued to proceed with the appointment process under the conditions outlined in the contested advertisement.
In the suit, the claimants asked the court to declare that a medical fellowship, as the pinnacle of a medical career, should be regarded as equivalent to a Ph.D. for the purposes of eligibility. They further argued that Dr. Modekwe, as a holder of such a fellowship, is qualified to participate in the selection process and that his exclusion is illegal and unconstitutional.
The plaintiffs also requested the court to void the September 12, 2024, advertisement published in Vanguard, arguing that it deviated from the criteria used in the 2019 VC selection process.
Additionally, they demanded that any appointment made based on the disputed advertisement be declared invalid, emphasizing that the publication constitutes “an illegality.”
I saved ahead, but not up to N500,000 – Husband of late pregnant woman replies critics
Akinbobola Folajimi, the husband of a pregnant woman who died after a hospital allegedly refused to treat her without a N500,000 deposit, has responded to criticism from Arise TV host, Reuben Abati.
Abati, during a segment on Arise News, criticised Folajimi for not preparing financially ahead of his wife’s delivery, describing him as “irresponsible” for arriving at the hospital without a prior financial commitment.
He said: “The whole substance of this conversation is that, according to Mr Folajimi, when he got to Al-Salam Convalescent Centre, he was asked to deposit N500,000, and the man was saying ‘please admit my wife, I will go and look for the money’.”
“When you impregnate a woman, you can’t come at nine months and you are saying ‘just treat her, let me go and look for the money.’ There are many people who do that. They put you under pressure. Mr Folajimi behaved in an irresponsible manner.
“You had nine months to prepare. You impregnated a woman and showed up at the hospital begging for care without a deposit. That’s irresponsible,” Abati said.
Folajimi defended himself, stating that he had saved about N100,000 but didn’t have the N500,000 the hospital demanded.
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‘’With due respect, this is not my first child. When my wife was pregnant, we were taking care of her to the best of my ability and I never came public or to you to ask for you to borrow me money for antenatal or feed my children.
“Excuse me Sir, I saved money but I didn’t save up to N500, 000. I saved money for that day but they asked for N500, 000 deposit, not full payment. I didn’t have that. All the money that I could have gathered that day wouldn’t have passed N100, 000,” he said.
He questioned the moral judgment placed on him for being unable to produce the sum on the spot, asking if it’s an offense to live below N500,000 or be poor in Nigeria.
“I don’t know if it is an offence not to have up to N500, 000 when your wife is about to give birth. I don’t know if it is an offence to now live below N500, 000 but you are now saying it is the ‘’highest irresponsibility” because I don’t have N500, 000. So it is even a crime to be poor in Nigeria,” he added.
Folajimi’s wife was allegedly denied treatment at a hospital due to the clinic’s demand for a N500,000 deposit.
He rushed her to another hospital, but unfortunately, she didn’t survive.
The incident has sparked outrage online, with many calling for the hospital to be sanctioned.
The Lagos state government has begun an investigation into the incident to bring justice to Folajimi.
The hospital has denied claims of demanding money from Folajimi, stating they never had a record of the deceased in their facility.
Era of Police detaining suspects for weeks gone – Falana
The foremost Human Rights Lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana SAN has said that it is no longer permissible for the police to arrest or detain a suspect for weeks in their custody without contacting his or her relations to notify them about their whereabouts.
Falana who stated this while speaking during a 3-day capacity building workshop organized for prosecutors in Kano State on effective administration of criminal justice, said the era of such practice is gone.
The senior learned Silk said the police must contact the family to notify them that the suspect is in police custody so that the family won’t be looking for him, thinking that maybe he’s been kidnapped.
He also said Nigerians are entitled to demand legal representation right from the point they are in a police station before they are being interrogated.
According to him, “Our people, because of ignorance, are made to suffer daily in all police stations in Nigeria. For instance, if a Nigerian gets to the police station, a Nigerian is arrested, wherever, and you are taken to the police station, under the law, it is the duty of the police to contact the family that Mr so-so-so-and-so of this suspect is here so that the family won’t be looking for him, thinking that maybe he’s been kidnapped.
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“You could be locked up for one week or more and there’s no contact with your family. That is no longer permissible under the law. If you have no lawyer and you are going to be interrogated by the police, you have the right as a Nigerian to demand legal representation and the police must contact the legal aid council to give you a lawyer.
“So from the police station, legal representation begins. It’s allowed. So by the time you are taken to court, that same body must also provide a lawyer for you if you don’t have the means to access justice.
“The rich can take care of themselves. The rich can have lawyers. They will have lawyers and if you find a big man or a big rich woman, you say, you meet me in court.
“I will instruct my lawyers to sue you. But for the poor, they say, God will judge. But God is saying, take advantage of the provisions made by the government to ask for justice,” he said.
He pointed out the need for more public defenders and lawyers across the 44 LGAs to stand for the rights and justice of the people.
President Tinubu greets Aliko Dangote on his birthday
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Africa’s foremost industrialist and philanthropist, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, founder and President of the Dangote Group, on his birthday.
The President celebrated the life of a visionary whose resilience and unwavering commitment to Africa’s economic transformation have redefined entrepreneurship on the continent.
President Tinubu in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, commended Alhaji Dangote for his contributions to Nigeria’s industrialisation effort, noting how his ventures from cement manufacturing to agriculture and the groundbreaking Dangote Refinery have bolstered the national ambition for self-sufficiency and created thousands of jobs.
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Beyond commerce, the President extolled Dangote’s philanthropy, mainly through the Dangote Foundation, which has uplifted millions of underprivileged Africans.
He said: “Aliko Dangote’s life embodies hard work, generosity, and faith in Nigeria’s potential. His willingness to invest in people and nation-building reflects profound business ingenuity and love for humanity.”
President Tinubu prayed that God Almighty will continue to bless Africa’s richest man with vitality, wisdom, and many more years of impact.
He encouraged younger Nigerians to draw inspiration from Dangote’s enterprise, resilience, and service.
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