FOOLISHNESS: UNIBEN STUDENTS SET COMRADE BUS ABLAZE OVER DEMOLITION OF PROPERTY Students of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, yesterday, attacked property of the Edo State Government in retaliation to the demolition of property given to the university during the administration of Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia. A luxury bus belonging to the Edo City Transport, popularly known as the Comrade Bus, with number plate ED129BH, and another truck were set ablaze by the protesting students, who described the action of the state government as unconstitutional. Students of the university and members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, have been protesting the demolition of 18 property given to the university during the Ogbemudia-led administration in the state. The protesters blocked the entire Benin-Lagos Road for over two hours before armed soldiers and Policemen were deployed to disperse them. The students also took over the Ugbowo axis in continuation of the protest. It’s gangsterism—UNIBEN Meanwhile, at a joint briefing, counsel to the university, Mr. Hannibal Uwaifo and UNIBEN-ASUU Chairman, Professor Anthony Monye-Emina, accused the state government of engaging in gangsterism by embarking on demolition of the property, when there was a pending appeal at the Court of Appeal, wherein the university was seeking a stay of state high court judgment of December 16, 2014. However, state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Henry Idahagbon, has challenged the university to produce the stay of execution order, insisting that “they are only trying to misinform the public and politicize the issue. “There was no stay of execu-tion order. Appealing a court judgment does not mean a stay of execution order. Let them produce it; I challenge them. “As I speak, the four respondents involved in this case which are the Edo State Government, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the Attorney- General and the Commissioner for Lands have not been served with any court processes since the December 16, 2014, when judgment was given. “I also want to state categorically that if the University of Benin and their counsel are able to show proof of service of any application for stay of execution of judgment on any of the four respondents, I will resign and go back to my village to farm.” UNIBEN’s petition In a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, UNIBEN alleged that thugs were used to harass and demolish their property and appealed to the IG to protect the staff of the university so as to avoid break down of law and order. It stated: “This is a case in which though the High Court ruled in favour of the state government, all constitutionally-guaranteed means of appeals are yet to be exhausted and in which our clients have exercised diligence towards exercising its right of appeal. “It is a case in which the state government and its proxies know they stand a very slim chance of success on appeal. Hence they have resorted to intimidation and threat to life.
Posted on: Thu, 08 Jan 2015 22:23:29 +0000
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