Confusion as dead students write exams at Federal Polytechnic Oko

Confusion now pervades Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, following a startling revelation that
certain dead students of the institution were graded and awarded marks in recent semester examinations.
A rights group International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (INTERSOCIETY) openedthecan of worms in a petition to the school authorities.

The petition entitled: “Complaints Against Wrongful Allocation of Results to Deceased Students’ and related : A call for investigation and Redress , alleged that “one of the deceased students  awarded marks in exams he never participated was Late Ezeh Uchenna with registration number FPO/SLT/ND/R1/012/038.
 The rights group’s petition was signed by its Chairmain, Board of Trustees, Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi.

According to the rights group: “the said Uchenna was given upper credit (3.05) and awarded 67 in Cell Biology, 81 in Organic Chemistry, 60 in Physical Chemistry, 49 in Electricity and Magnetism, 44 in Optics and Waves, 66 in Analytical Chemistry, 70 in General Lab Techniques, 69 in Computer Packages and so on.
 It also alleged that some students who had long left the polytechnic where  captured in the last semester”s exam records of the school,
INTERSOCIETY said the purpose of its petition was to ensure that the right things were done, , noting that some students who complained  about the irregularities and recklessness  were being victimised by s school authorities.


 “Just two days ago, they were called and invited  by the school security authorities to come and defend the letter INTERSOCIETY wrote to the School and defend their involvement over same. 
“The students also informed INTERSOCIETY that their names have been forwarded to the School’s Anti Cult Brigade to be treated as common criminals and cultists.
“As a matter of fact, they have gone into hiding; operating amorphously to avoid being physically assaulted and held captive. Their state of mind is also psychologically battered leading to mental torture., INTERSOCIETY argued.

 Continuing it maintained that“We regard these approaches as very uncalled for, reprehensible, despicable and condemnable.
 “The School under your respected midwifery must not be an outlaw and dangle with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 particularly its Section 35 (personal liberty), 36 (fair hearing) and 39 (freedom of expression).
“Your school must also understand that the engine room of the corporate social responsibilities, which it is a party to; is founded on human rights. Students who complain of certain anomalies through duly constituted processes are not only sticklers of due process, but also entitled to fair hearing and free speech or expression.

“It saddens our heart that till date no reasonable investigation over the students’ complaint has been commenced and concluded by the School Authorities.
 It further submitted  that “As for the referenced Head of Department, who was newly elevated to the academic rank of Deanship, we demand that she should be called to order and compelled to revisit the issue under complaint. As we have earlier demanded, no student of the referenced Department should be punished or maltreated over the issue.

 It noted that“The student’s position and assertion that the lecturers that handled the referenced courses and exams should be compelled to tender their raw result score sheets for the purpose of crosschecking results in their possession with those wrongfully published by the Department and the school authorities; should be commended and heeded.


In his reaction, the Rector of  Polytechnic , Professor Godwin Onu, said he had constituted a committee to investigate the matter, even as he said those were the handiwork of enemies to pain the polytechnic black in the eyes of the public.

Punch