Professor Indicted for Sexual Assault to be Appointed New VC of Nigerian Federal University

[Adeshina Afolayan]

http://www.tori.ng/news/12838/professor-indicted-for-sexual-assault-to-be-appoin.html

[Adeshina Afolayan]

http://www.tori.ng/news/12838/professor-indicted-for-sexual-assault-to-be-appoin.html

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On Tue, 10 Nov, 2015 at 8:22 AM, 'Adeshina Afolayan' via USA Africa Dialogue Series

<usaafric...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

http://www.tori.ng/news/12838/professor-indicted-for-sexual-assault-to-be-appoin.html

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[Toyin Falola]

http://www.tori.ng/news/12838/professor-indicted-for-sexual-assault-to-be-appoin.html

Professor Indicted for Sexual Assault to be Appointed New VC of Nigerian Federal University

Posted by Odinaka on Mon 09th Nov, 2015 - tori.ng

The man designated the next vice chancellor of the University of Uyo, was indicted in 2005 for forgery and sexual assault by the Court of Appeal, obtained court papers have revealed. 

Prof. Enefiok Essien

 

A 55-year old Professor of Commercial Law and the current Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Uyo, Prof. Enefiok Essien, has been tapped to succeed Prof. Comfort Ekpo as the next Vice Chancellor of the university on December 1, 2015.

 

Court papers obtained exclusively by Premium Times, reveals that the vice chancellor-elect, Essien was indicted in 2005 for forgery and sexual assault by the Court of Appeal.

 

The Court of Appeal, Calabar, Cross River State, handed down the indictment on Essien on July 14, 2005 while affirming the judgment of the Federal High Court, Calabar, which nullified UniUyo’s expulsion of a female student, Linda Onyebuchi Essell, from the university over her alleged involvement in examination malpractice.

 

UniUyo didn’t appeal the judgment and Essell went on to complete her first degree in law and graduated from the university. She was represented at the Court of Appeal proceedings by Obiora A. Obianwu, SAN.

 

Essell, as at the time she was accused of examination malpractice in March, 1995, was in her second year, while Essien was a senior lecturer then. The fact of the case, according to court papers, is that Essell submitted unstamped and unsigned answer booklet during her examination in Constitutional Law (PUL 211), and for this reason the university accused her of having pre-knowledge of the examination questions and of bringing pre-written examination answers into the examination hall.

 

She was eventually expelled from the university, although she pleaded that she was innocent of the allegations. Essell had told the court in her affidavit.

 

"I did not even notice (that the answer script was unstamped and unsigned). I explained that I was thoroughly searched by the invigilators like any other student before I entered the examination hall and that I was served with the answer script in the examination hall. I did not go out of the hall throughout the duration of the examination."

 

She supported her argument with an affidavit telling how Essien, the man who several years later would be appointed UniUyo’s vice chancellor, manipulated the university system against her because she had refused to accede to his love overtures.

 

Interestingly, it was Essien, who invigilated Essell in the PUL 211 examination. It was him who accused her of examination malpractice. It was also him who chaired the Examination Malpractice Panel that tried Essell.

 

The Court of Appeal faulted Essien’s chairmanship of the panel and the failure of the vice chancellor to hear from Essell before acting on the recommendations of Essien’s panel which proceedings the court said wasn’t credible.

 

In fact, besides stating that the record of proceedings of the panel was replete with many errors which amounted to 'a serious breach of the fundamental rights of the respondent,' the court held that the proceedings of the panel must have been tampered with.

 

"Sometimes in April, 1995 around 1pm, Essien, after our lectures on Contract of which he was the lecturer, summoned me to his office. He told me that I had the last opportunity to redeem my career which was billed for a doom by expulsion if only I could accede to his simple love overtures which will take nothing from me," Essell said in her affidavit.

 

The Court of Appeal in its judgment delivered by Justice Dalhatu Adamu declared that Essell’s statements as contained in her affidavit were 'serious indictment on Essien'.

 

Since there was no counter-affidavit by Essien, the court in its unanimous decision, held that Essell’s allegations 'not having been challenged, contradicted and controverted, must be deemed to be true and correct.'

 

"It is surprising and strange that the said Mr. Essien who was the subject of a vicious allegation refused to swear to a counter-affidavit to challenge or contradict or controvert the allegations levelled against him by the respondent,"the court said.

 

The Director of Information, University of Uyo, Godfrey Essien said he wasn’t aware of the case and declined to comment when he was contacted.

 

Prof. Essien also refused to speak on the issue when he was contacted by telephone on Friday, saying that he had nothing to say on the matter.

 

However, the Pro-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Kimse Okoko, confirmed that the institution’s governing council received a petition against Mr. Essien after the selection process had ended.

 

He said the allegations against Essien, as contained in the court judgment were brought to the notice of the university Governing Council, in which he (Okoko) is chairman, after the council had concluded its work on the appointment of a new vice chancellor for the university.

 

Okoko, whose Governing Council appointed and announced Essien as vice chancellor-designate, said it was too late for the council to open an investigation into the allegations against Essien.

 

"I still confronted him (Essien) when I got the petition against him, and he told me that the whole court case took place when he was away in the UK for his Ph.D," Okoko said.

Toyin Falola

Department of History

The University of Texas at Austin

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USA

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[Michael Afolayan]

". . . it was too late for the council to open an investigation into the allegations against Essien."

(Professor Kimse Okoko, University Pro-Chancellor!!!)

Really? Where is revolution? Where is moral outrage? Where is "watzu wazuri?" Where is the "Vox populi, vox Dei" slogan of the seventies? A man accused of sexual assault? He is becoming a Vice Chancellor? It makes you to want to start singing, "God bless America!" Students' action just yanked the two most powerful men of a university system in America out of the office in the "Show Me State" of Missouri - yesterday (November 9) - next doors - just students and students alone! 

Maybe I've stayed too long in the good old America because I never knew there is something called statute of limitation for sexual assaults. On this side of the Atlantic, Essien has to register as a serious sex offender and could not live within certain distance of a school, let alone become a dean or VC! Forget about the "presumed innocent until proven guilty" hogwash, he should not even be a candidate for any public office. The only public office he belongs to is called Department of Corrections and Incarcerations" and the only term he desrves is in a federal prison. Brother belongs in jail. Period! That choir master's gown akin to a clown's robe should be an orange jumpsuit in Kirikiri.

Oh well, what do I know? Un voleur peut se prononcer dans une villes des voleurs! But all days belong to the thief sha; it takes only one day for the owner's Nemesis to catch up with the rogue, and, trust me, it won't be pretty!

Just thinking loud . . .

Michael O. Afolayan

From the Land of Lincoln

[Michael Afolayan]

". . . it was too late for the council to open an investigation into the allegations against Essien."

(Professor Kimse Okoko, University Pro-Chancellor!!!)

Really? Where is revolution? Where is moral outrage? Where is "watzu wazuri?" Where is the "Vox populi, vox Dei" slogan of the seventies? A man accused of sexual assault? He is becoming a Vice Chancellor? It makes you to want to start singing, "God bless America!" Students' action just yanked the two most powerful men of a university system in America out of the office in the "Show Me State" of Missouri - yesterday (November 9) - next doors - just students and students alone! 

Maybe I've stayed too long in the good old America because I never knew there is something called statute of limitation for sexual assaults. On this side of the Atlantic, Essien has to register as a serious sex offender and could not live within certain distance of a school, let alone become a dean or VC! Forget about the "presumed innocent until proven guilty" hogwash, he should not even be a candidate for any public office. The only public office he belongs to is called Department of Corrections and Incarcerations" and the only term he desrves is in a federal prison. Brother belongs in jail. Period! That choir master's gown akin to a clown's robe should be an orange jumpsuit in Kirikiri.

Oh well, what do I know? Un voleur peut se prononcer dans une villes des voleurs! But all days belong to the thief sha; it takes only one day for the owner's Nemesis to catch up with the rogue, and, trust me, it won't be pretty!

Just thinking loud . . .

Michael O. Afolayan

From the Land of Lincoln

[M Buba]

My Brother,

What do you know, indeed! There's a theory of humour called SSTH that works on the basis of a discourse unit being compatible with two different scripts. I wondered whether that's the manual our 'big men' have on their desks. I assure you, my brother, Prof X will pop up as the next elected representstive of his people - our people, and will then chair Y committee on education. Prof X will then go on 'oversight' tour of all tertiary institutions, starting locally fwith TETFUND before arriving at his old watering hole amidst  fanfare with gong! What do we all know, indeed, my brother. As day follows night, this too will pass.  Ese!

Malami

Prof Malami Buba

Department of English Language & Linguistics

Sokoto State University

PMB 2134, Birnin-Kebbi Rd,

Sokoto, NIGERIA

[Jimoh Oriyomi]

Prof. X might be one of the next recipant of national award. OON or MFR.

On Tuesday, November 10, 2015, 'M Buba' via USA Africa DiaMAR ue Series <usaafric...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
> My Brother,
> What do you know, indeed! There's a theory of humour called SSTH that works on the basis of a discourse unit being compatible with two different scripts. I wondered whether that's the manual our 'big men' have on their desks. I assure you, my brother, Prof X will pop up as the next elected representstive of his people - our people, and will then chair Y committee on education. Prof X will then go on 'oversight' tour of all tertiary institutions, starting locally fwith TETFUND before arriving at his old watering hole amidst  fanfare with gong! What do we all know, indeed, my brother. As day follows night, this too will pass.  Ese!
> Malami
>
> Prof Malami Buba
> Department of English Language & Linguistics
> Sokoto State University
> PMB 2134, Birnin-Kebbi Rd,
> Sokoto, NIGERIA
> On 10 Nov 2015, at 12:54, 'Michael Afolayan' via USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafric...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
>
> ". . . it was too late for the council to open an investigation into the allegations against Essien."
> (Professor Kimse Okoko, University Pro-Chancellor!!!)
> Really? Where is revolution? Where is moral outrage? Where is "watzu wazuri?" Where is the "Vox populi, vox Dei" slogan of the seventies? A man accused of sexual assault? He is becoming a Vice Chancellor? It makes you to want to start singing, "God bless America!" Students' action just yanked the two most powerful men of a university system in America out of the office in the "Show Me State" of Missouri - yesterday (November 9) - next doors - just students and students alone! 
> Maybe I've stayed too long in the good old America because I never knew there is something called statute of limitation for sexual assaults. On this side of the Atlantic, Essien has to register as a serious sex offender and could not live within certain distance of a school, let alone become a dean or VC! Forget about the "presumed innocent until proven guilty" hogwash, he should not even be a candidate for any public office. The only public office he belongs to is called Department of Corrections and Incarcerations" and the only term he desrves is in a federal prison. Brother belongs in jail. Period! That choir master's gown akin to a clown's robe should be an orange jumpsuit in Kirikiri.
> Oh well, what do I know? Un voleur peut se prononcer dans une villes des voleurs! But all days belong to the thief sha; it takes only one day for the owner's Nemesis to catch up with the rogue, and, trust me, it won't be pretty!
> Just thinking loud . . .
> Michael O. Afolayan
> From the Land of Lincoln
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tuesday, November 10, 2015 1:45 AM, Toyin Falola <toyin...@austin.utexas.edu> wrote:
>
>
> http://www.tori.ng/news/12838/professor-indicted-for-sexual-assault-to-be-appoin.html
>
> Professor Indicted for Sexual Assault to be Appointed New VC of Nigerian Federal University
>
> Posted by Odinaka on Mon 09th Nov, 2015 - tori.ng
>
> The man designated the next vice chancellor of the University of Uyo, was indicted in 2005 for forgery and sexual assault by the Court of Appeal, obtained court papers have revealed. 
>

> <https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/aHKXUlpdebtvwab5DDoN4AZev9BBPoIjLCjT6f8yvJfdXTUYQvS0pq79ii9PvTWbrW6t8NWU9FrnzfRrJIRsx3if93adPlDs9hdSGbLROrzK=s0-d-e1-ft#http://www.tori.ng/userfiles/image/2015/nov/09/essien-1.jpg>

Sent from Gmail Mobile

[John Mbaku]

The headline says the professor was indicted. What happened to the case? Was it ever fully adjudicated? 

JOHN MUKUM MBAKU, ESQ.
J.D. (Law), Ph.D. (Economics)
Graduate Certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law
Nonresident Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution
Attorney & Counselor at Law (Licensed in Utah)
Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor of Economics &  John S. Hinckley Fellow
Department of Economics
Weber State University
1337 Edvalson Street, Dept. 3807
Ogden, UT 84408-3807, USA
(801) 626-7442 Phone
(801) 626-7423 Fax

[Anunoby, Ogugua]

What is Nigeria’s problem? Is it class, corruption, ethnicity, commitment to continuous underdevelopment, or all of the above? Not even universities are spared the embarrassment of decadence that debauched politics forces on the country.  

What university council would not be aware of the indictment in two courts for forgery on a professor of law? Is this to say that applicants for the university’s highest office are not vetted even where they are serving employees? If the university council did not know that it is never too late to appoint a character-deficit person to the highest administrative position in any organization, it knows now. It should withdraw the offer of appointment without further delay. The indictment of two courts for forgery are enough to disqualify especially a law professor for the position in issue. He should have been gone long before now. This university’s council clearly, should be disbanded and properly reconstituted as matter of urgency if it moves forward with the proposed appointment.

A society whose leaders and upper social classes have neither a sense of outrage nor shame, not to mention a proper sense of propriety, might as well give up any real hope of becoming a better society. The university of Uyo if I remember correctly is a state university. Does the State Governor who I believe appoints the university council have anything to say on this matter? He should in my considered opinion.

 

oa

 

oa

[OLADMEJI ABORISADE]

     I am: Oladimeji Aborisade:  Please allow me a few lines on this very sensitive  academic corruption business.      It has to stop. It must stop.    But "HOW".  The appointment of this VC must be  closed.    A new VC  is to be appointed  immediately.     Students  Government must work with the   VCS  to bring out the sexually  committed devil Teachers.      If the   University  Teachers refrain   from the illicit behavior, the WAR against corruption will be more meaningful. Thank you. oladimeji aborisade.
 

---

From: Anun...@lincolnu.edu
To: usaafric...@googlegroups.com
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2015 13:29:18 -0600
Subject: RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Professor Indicted for Sexual Assault to be Appointed New VC of Nigerian Federal University

[Felicia Oyekanmi]

Please note that University of Uyo is owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Good and upright character is one of the qualities examined in the choice of a Vice Chancellor or any public official for that matter. One expects that the Council of that university would be diligent in their appointment of a Vice Chancellor.

Prof Felicia A. D. Oyekanmi Department of Sociology University of Lagos Akoka, Yaba, Lagos Nigeria Tel: {234} 1 7941757 Cell: {234}8056560970

--------------------------------------------

On Tue, 10/11/15, Anunoby, Ogugua <Anun...@lincolnu.edu> wrote:

Subject: RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Professor Indicted for Sexual Assault to be Appointed New VC of Nigerian Federal University

To: "usaafric...@googlegroups.com" <usaafric...@googlegroups.com>
Date: Tuesday, 10 November, 2015, 20:29

[Anunoby, Ogugua]

Thank you for the correction.
Does the Federal Universities' Supervising Agency or even the presidency not usually have a role to play in a matter of public interest such as this one? Are University Councils' required by law or other practice, to recommend one or more candidates to the said Agency for assent or other approval?
The candidate from reports, seems to have a serious character deficit? A federal court indictment of a Law professor for forgery is a serious matter and should not be ignored. The appointee may be more threatening to female students than he ever was now he is a V.C. External control/intervention may be necessary this time if the University' Council will not reconsider this appointment. Internal control seems to have failed. It is choices and decisions like this one that tend to compel and justify micromanagement.
Every university has a duty of care to all its students.

oa

[ienwana]

Yes dear sister. indeed, in the appointment of a vc, to be in charge of the upbringing of the young in character and learning, the candidate must not only be clean but MUST BE SEEN TO BE CLEAN. All who are concerned in any way with the upbringing of future Nigerians should be careful!!!

[Segun Ogungbemi]

One needs to have the judgment paper on the case to know whether justice has been done. 

Even at that, the Professor ought to have been more honorable not to allow ethnicity to play him into a post that would further expose his moral compass. He should honorably reject the offer, methinks. 
Prof. Segun Ogungbemi