By Akinwale Kasali
A Pan Arewa Group under the aegis of Jigawa Conscience Alliance has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately reverse the appointment of Dickson Akoh as member of the Governing Board of Federal University of Technology, Babura, Jigawa State.
The Group frowned bitterly at his appointment alleging that Akoh was expelled from the University of Abuja, UNIABUJA for Examination Malpractice. They, therefore, queried how he could be appointed as a member of the University Governing Council.
A statement issued by the Group’s National Chairman, Hon. Abdulahi Shehu-Dutse, stated that Akoh was a Student in the Sociology Department, and was caught to be involved in Examination Malpractice.
Shehu-Dutse added that Akoh was tried by the Institution’s Disciplinary Committee, and was allegedly found guilty, prompting his expulsion by the University Senate.
According to him, “President Tinubu should, as a matter of urgent national interest, withdraw the appointment of Mr Dickson Ameh Akoh, into the governing Board of the Federal University of Technology, Babura.
“This man who was a Master’s Degree Sociology student in University of Abuja was caught engaging in Malpractice in Course SOC 804.”
“The Senate of the University of Abuja, during its 179th regular meeting on 27th October, 2021, considered the report of the Central examination misconduct committee and approved his expulsion with immediate effect. Yet this same character continues to claim that he has a Master’s degree from the same university and parades himself with a procured Honourary Doctorate degree
“The expulsion letter of the school to Mr Akoh Dickson was dated 5th November, 2021 and Signed by Deputy Registrar Alkassim M . Umar; For the Registar. The Expulsion Letter’s Reference Number is UA/R/ACA/16494018”
He noted that “even Mr Dickson Akoh knows that he cannot be appointed into the board of a Nursery School talk less of a University of technology on whose shoulders lies the destiny of many in Jigawa and across the country”
He went further to explain that “since the announcement of the shameful appointment of Mr Akoh we have been inundated with calls from many stakeholders across Jigawa and Kano states as well as the University of Abuja. They wondered why such horrible mistake would be made by President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of education , Professor Tahir Mamman”
Shehu-Dutse pointed out that: “We are fully aware that prior to his expulsion from The University of Abuja, This same Mr Akoh sued the university and its Vice Chancellor to an Abuja court . The case, Suit No is CV/035/2020. The judgement was delivered on 26th November, 2020. The suit brought by Mr Akoh was thrown out for lack of Merit by the respected Honourable Justice A I Kutigi
“He further added that indigenes of Jigawa State have reposed so much respect and confidence in that the president Tinubu’s administration and also the Minister of Education, urging them to swiftly attend to this issue by withdrawing Akoh’s appointment to “save the future of the students and the institution.
“We are sure that this academically bankrupt man would destroy both the foundation and principles of the institution of learning.
“We commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his directive the recent appointment in Federal Universities governing boards by reviewed. We are excited when Mr Bayo Onanuga Issued the statement. The first person to exit that list is Mr Dickson Akoh for expulsion and examination malpractice”
In his final words: “We have gone to the institution and court and gathered all necessary documents on the is matter. Professor Tahir Mamman we know cannot tolerate this as Director-General of The Nigerian Law school and we believe he should not tolerate same now”
Akoh is yet to respond or refute the claim of the Pan Arewa Group as at the filing in of this report.
