By Godwin Otang
Gender and Development Action (GADA) and the International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA) in a bid to straighten the rules guiding the Nigerian Universities environment have sought stringent measures from the Nigerian University Commission (NUC).
The duo made the prayers in a suit against NUC, the University of Calabar (UNICAL); the Vice Chancellor Professor Florence Obi, and the suspended Professor Cyril Osim Ndifon, as defendants.
In suite number FHC/CA/FHR/10/2024, the applicants are praying the Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, to compel the defendants including the NUC to make stringent rules to guide lecturers and other university staff in their dealings to prevent abuses.
Presiding on the matter in a virtual hearing, at the Federal High Court Calabar, with suit number FHC/CA/FHR/10/2024, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu upon an application by counsel to the fourth defendant granted a new date to file a counter affidavit, preliminary objections, and other processes.
Speaking on why they sought a new date, counsel to the fourth defendant Ogbiji Ogbiji, who held brief for Joe Agi (SAN), told CrossRiverWatch that “The applicants who’ve brought us to court are meddlesome interlopers; they do not have any businesses; if there’s any misconduct by the fourth respondents (Professor Ndifon), it is his employers (University of Calabar), who should sue him and not those applicants who are strangers. They’re gold diggers.” he said.
Similarly, Jonas O. Abuo Esq., Counsel to the first, second, and third respondents said: “At the first adjourned date, (March 14, 2024), I represented the second and third defendants, but for today, I have also been instructed to represent the first respondent.”
Meanwhile, counsel to the applicants Affiong Nkeruwem Onung Esq, representing GADA and FIDA noted that the aim of instituting the case is to fuel the NUC to make laws and use rods to curtail excesses from lecturers and Nigerian universities, whenever they flout the law; especially about sexual harassment, sorting, bullying, and others.
The applicant insists they want the respondents to be more proactive and more serious in their dealings.
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