Abuja: The leadership of the Federal Polytechnic Oko, Alumni Association, has distanced itself from a suit filed against the institution’s rector, Dr. Chioma Awuzie. President of the association, Chief Henry Nnebe, stated in Abuja that it was necessary to clear the air following the deliberate peddling of falsehood and misinformation against the association.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Nnebe, who spoke through the association’s lawyer, Mr. Nnaemeka Ejiofor, emphasized that every legal step would be taken to correct the misinformation. ‘This Public Notice/Press Release has therefore become imperative in order to set the records straight and assuage the concerns of our beloved alma mater Federal Polytechnic Oko, which is under a new Rebirth.’
The report indicates that an alumnus of the institution, Blessing Okeke, instituted a case at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in the Awka Judiciary Division against the rector, the Governing Council of the Polytechnic, and the registrar. Also joined in
the suit are the Minister of Education and Henry Nnebe, the National President, Federal Polytechnic Oko Alumni Association.
Nnebe, through the association’s lawyer, stated that they cannot be dragging the management to court when it is committed to the growth and development of the Polytechnic. ‘The general Public are hereby put on notice and we state categorically that Blessing Okeke, who deposed to being a 2003 graduate of the Federal Polytechnic Oko and as such an Alumnus of the polytechnic, stated clearly in the affidavit that she is the Plaintiff in the suit.’
The association’s lawyer further explained that, in accordance with Article 5, Section 1 of the constitution, Okeke or any alumnus cannot represent their client without express approval, and this means that she does not represent the Federal Polytechnic Oko Alumni Association. ‘She also does not have the mandate or approval of the Alumni National President or National Executive Council to represent the association in her present suit.’
The lawye
r also highlighted that the Federal Polytechnic Oko Alumni Association is not mentioned in the affidavit by Okeke as being part of the plaintiff and does not associate itself with the suit. ‘That the plaintiff named Henry Nnebe (National President, Federal Polytechnic Oko Alumni Association) as the 7th Defendant in the suit.’
Furthermore, the National Executive Council has mandated the branch of the Alumni Association to which Okeke belongs to evoke forthwith the Alumni’s Constitution, Article 14 Section 1. ‘The Alumni constitution says that each branch of the association shall have power to exercise disciplinary control over its members and may caution, suspend, impose a fine, or impose any other disciplinary sanction or punishment on any member whose conduct offends or is against this constitution.’
The association’s lawyer concluded by noting that the client will not hesitate to seek appropriate redress against those who seem intent on tarnishing, maligning, and slandering the association that has contri
buted immensely to the growth of the Polytechnic for over 40 years. The National Executive Council uses this opportunity to call on their esteemed ‘Oko Polymath’ to remain resolute and dedicated to the vision of the institution, ensuring that things are done properly and constitutionally always.
