VC tussle: Medical association sues UNIZIK, others – Newstrends
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VC tussle: Medical association sues UNIZIK, others

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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.”

VC tussle: Medical association sues UNIZIK, others

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BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

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BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

The federal government has unveiled a proposed budget of N47.9 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year.

Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, disclosed this to journalists on Thursday following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu.

Bagudu revealed that the council had approved the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2025-2027.

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According to the minister, the government has pegged the crude oil benchmark at $75 per barrel, with an oil production target of 2.06 million barrels per day (bpd).

The budget also sets the exchange rate at N1,400 per dollar and aims for a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 6.4%.

 

BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

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EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

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EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told FIJ that they have arrested Timber Wabote, the former executive secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCMB), on the grounds of a failed $35 million Bayelsa refinery project fraud.

Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s spokesperson, confirmed this to FIJ on Thursday.

“It is true,” Oyewale responded to FIJ’s inquiries.

Wabote is accused of misappropriating public funds for a refinery project that should have improved local energy production.

Vanguard reported that the NCDMB under Wabote paid $35 million to support the development of energy infrastructure in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa, yet there was nothing to show for it.

The EFCC picked Wabote up following the arrest of Akintoye Adeoye Akindele, the Managing Director of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, for alleged misappropriation, money laundering and diversion of $35 million in public funds.

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“NCDMB under the watch of Wabote allegedly paid the $35 million to Akindele to build a 2,000 barrel per day (BPD), refinery, jetty, gas plant, power plant, data centre and tank farm at Brass free trade zone (FTZ), Okpoama Community in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State,” a source with the EFCC had explained.

Since December 2020 when the payments were made, Akindele abandoned the project with little or nothing to show for the huge sum he received.

Preliminary investigations showed that Wabote’s NCDMB financed 17 different projects, including the 2,000 BPD refinery in Brass LGA.

There has been a series of public fund misappropriation cases in the energy sector in recent times.

FIJ earlier reported that members of the House of Representatives summoned three ministers to defend how over $2 billion was spent on renewable energy with not much to show for it.

A recent FIJ report also recently detailed how residents of Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa, have not had power in their homes since July due to the vandalisation of the Ahoada-Yenagoa transmission towers caused by unidentified persons.

The Bayelsa state government told FIJ it was the federal government’s responsibility to provide electricity for residents. The state has no renewable energy options reliable enough to power its capital despite the multi-million-dollar NCMB energy project.

Transparency in the energy sector has become necessary at a time when Nigerians have suffered power instability due to frequent grid collapses.

EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

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Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27

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Yahaya Bello

Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has requested an adjournment in the new case against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, stating that the 30-day window for the previously issued summons is still active.

The commission has granted administrative bail to his co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, and asked the court for an extension of time for Bello to appear.

At the resumed hearing before Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, EFCC Counsel Jamiu Agoro noted that the court’s order from October 3rd had not yet expired.

“In that wise, we feel it will not be appropriate for us to take proceedings while that 30 days is still running. So we have discussed and agreed to come back on the 27th day of November, 2024, my lord,” he told the court.

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He also mentioned that the previously set date of November 20th was not convenient for the prosecution counsels.

Counsel to the second defendant, Aliyu Saiki, SAN, confirmed that his client had been granted administrative bail by the prosecution and had no objection to the adjournment request. The third defendant’s counsel, ZE Abass, concurred.

The prosecution counsel also requested the court to allow the notice of hearing to be pasted on the last known address of the first defendant.

After hearing from all counsels, the judge granted the EFCC’s application for adjournment and the issuance of the hearing notice.

“I have considered the application for adjournment by the complainant and issuance of hearing notice and the submission by the second and third defendants. The application is granted,” she said.

Justice Anenih then adjourned the case to November 27th for arraignment.

The former governor, alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, are being prosecuted as 1st to 3rd defendants, respectively, in a fresh 16-count charge instituted against them by the EFCC.

Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27

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