Removal of Abia State University Vice Chancellor: What the law allows.
Dr. Alex Otti, the Governor of Abia State, recently sacked the Vice Chancellor of Abia State University after receiving reports from an investigating team.
The question is whether the Governor acted within the scope of his legal authority. Section 31 (1) of Abia State University Law, Cap 38 (2005) Laws of Abia State of Nigeria specifies as follows:
“If it appears to the Visitor that the Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor or Vice Chancellor should be removed from office on the grounds of misconduct or of inability to perform the functions of this office, the Visitor may, by notice in the State Gazette, remove the Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor or Vice-Chancellor from office”
The next question should be: Who is the Visitor? Section 30 of the law states that the Governor of Abia State will be the University’s Visitor. The final point will be whether wrongdoing required the Governor to utilise his powers to remove the vice-chancellor.
Written by Nwakanma Chinaza (Obinwannem News correspondent Abia State)
Date: November 5, 2024
Ubochi Nkwo Ikuku
Published by Ugwu Okechukwu (CEO Obinwannem Foundation)
