Tufiakwa In Okopoly: Outrage Over Expulsion Of Okopoly Student Journalist For Practicing What He Was Taught ; Lawyer To The Rescue

 

Outrage and condemnation trailed last week exclusive report by Campus Sun on the expulsion of Emeka Onwudinjo, a student journalist of the Federal Polytechnic (OKOPOLY), Oko, Anambra State. He was kicked out of the polytechnic on November 14 , 2013 by the management of the institution on allegation of writing stories that defaced the institution.

Onwudinjo was swept off his feet for reporting the activities of the local chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), which had been in a frosty relationship with the management over staff benefits and better academic standard.

No sooner had the story of his expulsion rolled out from the press than reactions came from different parts of the country in series of calls and electronic mails. But the most prominent was that of a legal practitioner who instantly volunteered to offer him legal support at no cost. Some notable advocacy groups also condemned the decision, describing it as executive bully and an abuse of power. (Details next week)

A Lagos-based lawyer, Pat Anyadubalu, floored the decision to expel an aspiring journalist for doing his job, describing the act as an infringement on the freedom of expression. He also offered free legal aid to the victim to challenge the decision in court, stressing that the action of the school cannot stand the gavel of justice.

Anyadubalu, who runs a non­governmental organization that promotes education, Back-to-School Foundation, said he was engaged in campus journalism during his days at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka and wondered why such noble initiative should be misused to punish aspiring journalists.

"I read that story and wept. I wept because I never believed that in our democratic set-up, I never believed that in this century, I never believed that in this age when we are no longer under military dictatorship, such undemocratic and wicked act could happen," he said.

The lawyer argued that the decision to expel an aspiring journalist for demonstrating the practical skills of his course of study was not made in good faith. According to him, students of Mass Communication are trained to write investigative stories and give equal media space to the opposition. He wondered if such an action could warrant outright rustication from the polytechnic.

"The law is very clear. If somebody writes anything against you, it is libel if it is published. If it is spoken orally, it is slander. The remedy you have is to sue the person for damages. When you sue the person, he will defend his action. If OKOPOLY felt that what the young man wrote was false, what they would have done was to sue him for libel. He is an adult and he will defend himself. You cannot stop him from writing because the law guarantees him freedom of expression," he said.

The lawyer said the action of the polytechnic against the student was an act of victimization. According to him, Nigerian judiciary cannot allow such thing brazen injustice to thrive.

When our reporter argued that Onwudinjo may not be able to stage a legal battle with the institution, with its unlimited fund and manpower to wrestle justice out of his feeble hands, he promptly volunteered to render free legal services to the affected student.

"I can offer him free legal services. Yes, I say it not minding that I have to institute the action in Anambra State. I can offer him free legal services to pursue the matter. Even the institution knows that their decision cannot stand the test of judiciary," he stated.

In his reaction, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the polytechnic, Obini Onuchukwu Obini, strongly defended the legality of the expulsion order, noting that students of OKOPOLY must be found worthy in character and learning as a necessary condition for their graduation from the institution. He said Onwudinjo was found wanting in the qualities that would make him remain on campus.

"We train people who will represent the institution and the country professionally. Our Mass Communication Department is rated the best in the country and we spend so much money in making it the best. We therefore expect that our graduates would   be ready to learn and practice professionally. Onwudinjo's attitude by the virtue of the stories he wrote did not meet up the expected expectation," he said.

The PRO also alleged that Onwudinjo's claim that there was no reward for his write-up was false. According to him, investigation revealed that 'some lecturers or top union members who are strongly behind him allegedly reward him with extra marks in his courses.'

"Why would it be the local chapter Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) and the zonal Chairman that are agitating for him instead of the students union of the school. In situations like this, the students union comes up to make presentation but the union has been silent because they know the truth. If you read the so- called apology tendered by Onwudinjo, you will discover that he was never remorseful in his act, suggesting that he might not have recognized the meaning of his action. In his statement, you could also read some certain level of insubordination and indiscipline. We will not allow those who are poised to unleash terror on the institution," he said.

When our reporter told him that the only condition for expelling a student, as stated in the OKOPOLY Student's Handbook (printed in 2010) was involving in cultism, Obini claimed that there were other conditions spelt out in the revised edition of the handbook.

However, further investigation revealed that the school presently uses the handbook, printed in 2010, which, possibly suggests that another version could soon be introduced to include relevant clauses that would nail the embattled student in court.

Obini said the Rector, Prof Godwin Onu, who is the chief executive of an institution, by the students union constitution, as enshrined therein, is empowered by all ramification without reservation to expel any student considered to be found wanting as Onwudinjo.

"The Rector is the most-student friendly, the most union friendly and that explains his commitment to the development of human resources in the institution. If he is a rector that is against his students, he would not have sponsored the former SUG President to South Africa for international exposure on how to better the lives of his colleagues. He has made donations like buses to students and a whole lot of other facilities to better their lives. He is a father and a very kind person but morally Onwudinjo has not lived up to expectation. Rather he is relying on his pay masters to politicize the case, instead of being apologetic and remorseful," he said.

BY SAM OTTI

(To be continued next week)

"The test of democracy is freedom of criticism"  -David Ben-Gurion