37 students were rusticated for one academic term at Nasarawa State University in Keffi for allegedly engaging in “criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance of public peace, and cyber-stalking.”
Documents dated December 9, 2024, and January 21, 2025, which were acquired on Monday, indicate that the students’ actions were related to a WhatsApp group that was established to plan a protest against the university’s decision to start the third semester.
The students were then asked to come before the Students’ Disciplinary Committee.
According to university officials, the Senate took into consideration and approved the Committee’s recommendation that they be rusticated from the university for one academic session, 2024/2025, during its 123rd Regular Meeting on Thursday, October 31, 2024.
The impacted students were cautioned to avoid the university grounds unless specifically permitted in writing. They were also instructed to return to school for the full academic year in the first semester of the 2025–2026 academic year with a letter of undertaking committing them to behave well during their time as students.
The letter titled “Rustication For One Academic Session” was signed by Dr. Bala I. Ahmed, the Registrar, and was copied to the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Dean, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Head of Microbiology, Ag. Director, ICT Center, and Chief Security Officer; Head, Examinations and Records Unit, CCO, Examinations and Records Unit, IPO, and Head/General Administration.
Part of the letter said: “You may remember a case of criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance of public peace, and cyberstalking through a WhatsApp group that was established to plan a demonstration against the university over the start of the third semester and your subsequent appearance before the Students’ Disciplinary Committee.
“Senate at its 123rd Regular Meeting held on Thursday, 31 October, 2024 considered and approved the recommendation of the Committee that you should be rusticated from the University for One Academic Session. You are hereby Rusticated from the 2024/2025 Academic Session.
“During the period of rustication, you shall keep away from the University premises unless authorised in writing to come.
“You are to resume for full academic program in the First Semester of 2025/2026 Academic Session with your parent/guardian and a letter of undertaking promising to be of good behavior throughout your studentship in the University.
“The Chief Security Officer and all the relevant organs of the University have been informed and directed to ensure compliance.
“You are complying in your best interest, please,” the letter partly read.
Meanwhile, the University in an internal memo from Students’ Disciplinary Committee to See Distribution titled: “Invitation”, which was signed by Dogo Bitrus Moni, PAR/HR Secretary, stated that they (affected students) were invited to appear before the Students’ Disciplinary Committee for fairness.
The memo which contained the names of the students, matriculation numbers, departments and faculties, stated: “The Students’ Disciplinary Committee would be meeting on Thursday, 23rd January, 2025 to deliberate on the students’ crisis that took place on 5th September, 2024, after SUG election, which a report from the High powered Committee indicated that you have a case to answer.
“In fairness to you, the Students’ Disciplinary Committee is inviting you to appear before it by 11:00am, prompt, Thursday, January 23rd, 2025.”
The affected students are: “Osome Babangida, Public and International Law; David Bartholomew, Entrepreneurship Studies; Yunusa Yusulf, Public and International Law; Buhari Ari Ibrahim, Psychology; Ridwan Ahmed Barade, Urban and Regional Planning; AROKE Rasheedah Ometere, Computer Science; AYUBA Justice Ajegena, Public Administration; ABUBAKAR Azah Ibrahim, Science Technology and Mathematics Education; DANLADI Ibrahim Osewu, Urban and Regional Planning; AMOS Akolo Abimiku, Community Health; Moses Precious Benjamin, Sociology; JOHN Harri Harri, Urban and Regional; STEPHEN Joshua, Computer Science.
“SAMSON Susan Gankon, political science; SULEIMAN Usman, Science Technology and Mathematics Education; FAITH Gimba, public international law; YAKUBU Precious Sabo, microbiology; NDU Sunday John, sociology; TIMOTHY Gbadoh Mukeri, science laboratory technology; PETER Jeremiah Owe; science laboratory technology; OYIGOSO Jonathan Mathew, science laboratory technology; ONYEJEFU Attah Christopher, Science Laboratory Technology;
“OCHE Christian Ali, Science Laboratory Technology; SUNDAY Sani Ason, microbiology; IGBADUMEH Glory Aluaye, Microbiology; ΚΕΝΝΕΤΗ Aglevye Yunana, Computer Science; ISAAC Musa Ewa, Computer Science; OMEKE Arinize Victor, Biochemistry; DASHO Dominic Gidi, Plant Science; HARUNA Stephen Duniya, Microbiology; ABDULRAHMAN Anas, Educational Management; MUSA Mukalla Musa, Computer Science; HARUNA Isaac, Microbiology; TANKO Usman Rabiu, Computer Science; YOHANNA Joshua Abeson, Animal Science; and ABUBAKAR Auwal Dangana, Science Laboratory Technology; and Lucky Riwariya”.
Published by Ejoh Caleb
