After imposing 50,000 naira accommodation fee on students, Nigerian university management suspends provost, others
Management of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, has confirmed the suspension of the provost of the institution's College of Medicine, Godfrey Iyalomhe, and two other senior college officials over allegations of financial irregularities and abuse of power.
Other officers who have been suspended along with Mr. Iyalomhe are the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Harrison Otamere, and the Head of the Department of Nursing, Ifeanyi Nwadike.
The new development came just three weeks after the suspended provost approved an internal memo threatening that medical students would lose their scholarships if they failed to pay the mandatory 50,000 naira building fee.< /p>
University management, in a memo signed by an administrative officer and public relations officer (PRO) of the institution, Lawrence Isiraojie, noted that the decision had been taken to authorize independent investigations into the petitions from university students and staff against the provost and the two other college officials.
hostel feesOn July 5, an internal memo containing the threat against the students was shared by college sources. It was personally signed by the provost, Mr. Iyalomhe, a professor, with a strict warning that failure to comply with the instruction will result in dismissal of defaulters in the case of former students and withdrawal of admission in the case new students.
Numerous sources confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that the decision forced some new students to reconsider the offer of admission, while returning students also panicked.
Mr Iyalomhe's memo noted that a consensus was reached on March 7, 2020 by college management, an advisory forum and a student association that each medical student should pay N50,000 to complete a hostel under construction.
The memo also states that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has made the hostel one of the prerequisites for further inducting graduate doctors or admitting new students at the university.
"Therefore, I must direct each medical student to present proof of payment of the above fee prior to participating in any exit exams, professional exams, or resuming any new clinical assignments."
When PREMIUM TIMES called the suspended provost at the time, Mr Iyalomhe said the matter was not for the public because "it was not the newspaper's business.
“Please, the memo is private and has nothing to do with the logs,” he said.
Suspension orderThe memo announcing Mr. Iyalomhe's suspension, obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, reads in part: "I am responsible for advising the staff and students of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, that the management of the university on the directive of the Special Response Team (S.I.T - AAUE) suspended the Provost of the College of Medicine, Prof. G.B.S Iyalomhe, the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Dr. Harrison Oghogho O Otamere and the Head of Nursing Department, Mr. I Nwadike from their offices.
"The suspension follows several petitions received from medical school staff and students regarding allegations of abuse of power and financial improprieties against them.
"The suspension of the officers from their duties is intended to allow the University management to carry out a full and impartial investigation into the said allegations."
When asked if the suspension was related to accommodation costs, Mr. Isiraojie replied that he could not elaborate.
"I can only tell you to just use the memo at your disposal," he said.
Other allegations against the provostMeanwhile, other findings showed that Mr. Iyalomhe's professorial promotion had been criticized by some petitioners.
The petitioners called for an investigation “to determine whether his promotion was procedural, merited, and consistent with the university’s evaluation and promotion criteria as well as global best practices.”
The February 7 Daily Independent Newspaper reported that a staff member of the Department of Anatomy at the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ujaddughe Oriasotie, submitted a petition to the authorities against Mr. Iyalomhe on February 2...
Management of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, has confirmed the suspension of the provost of the institution's College of Medicine, Godfrey Iyalomhe, and two other senior college officials over allegations of financial irregularities and abuse of power.
Other officers who have been suspended along with Mr. Iyalomhe are the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Harrison Otamere, and the Head of the Department of Nursing, Ifeanyi Nwadike.
The new development came just three weeks after the suspended provost approved an internal memo threatening that medical students would lose their scholarships if they failed to pay the mandatory 50,000 naira building fee.< /p>
University management, in a memo signed by an administrative officer and public relations officer (PRO) of the institution, Lawrence Isiraojie, noted that the decision had been taken to authorize independent investigations into the petitions from university students and staff against the provost and the two other college officials.
hostel feesOn July 5, an internal memo containing the threat against the students was shared by college sources. It was personally signed by the provost, Mr. Iyalomhe, a professor, with a strict warning that failure to comply with the instruction will result in dismissal of defaulters in the case of former students and withdrawal of admission in the case new students.
Numerous sources confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that the decision forced some new students to reconsider the offer of admission, while returning students also panicked.
Mr Iyalomhe's memo noted that a consensus was reached on March 7, 2020 by college management, an advisory forum and a student association that each medical student should pay N50,000 to complete a hostel under construction.
The memo also states that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has made the hostel one of the prerequisites for further inducting graduate doctors or admitting new students at the university.
"Therefore, I must direct each medical student to present proof of payment of the above fee prior to participating in any exit exams, professional exams, or resuming any new clinical assignments."
When PREMIUM TIMES called the suspended provost at the time, Mr Iyalomhe said the matter was not for the public because "it was not the newspaper's business.
“Please, the memo is private and has nothing to do with the logs,” he said.
Suspension orderThe memo announcing Mr. Iyalomhe's suspension, obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, reads in part: "I am responsible for advising the staff and students of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, that the management of the university on the directive of the Special Response Team (S.I.T - AAUE) suspended the Provost of the College of Medicine, Prof. G.B.S Iyalomhe, the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Dr. Harrison Oghogho O Otamere and the Head of Nursing Department, Mr. I Nwadike from their offices.
"The suspension follows several petitions received from medical school staff and students regarding allegations of abuse of power and financial improprieties against them.
"The suspension of the officers from their duties is intended to allow the University management to carry out a full and impartial investigation into the said allegations."
When asked if the suspension was related to accommodation costs, Mr. Isiraojie replied that he could not elaborate.
"I can only tell you to just use the memo at your disposal," he said.
Other allegations against the provostMeanwhile, other findings showed that Mr. Iyalomhe's professorial promotion had been criticized by some petitioners.
The petitioners called for an investigation “to determine whether his promotion was procedural, merited, and consistent with the university’s evaluation and promotion criteria as well as global best practices.”
The February 7 Daily Independent Newspaper reported that a staff member of the Department of Anatomy at the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ujaddughe Oriasotie, submitted a petition to the authorities against Mr. Iyalomhe on February 2...
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