By Patrick Ekpo
Akwa Ibom state Governor,Udom Emmanuel has set up a 5-man investigative panel to review the case of one Iniobong Ekpo, who was expelled from the state University, Ikot Akpaden in Mkpat Enin local government area of the state.
The committee is headed by the state commissioner of education, Mrs. Idongesit Etiebet.
Ekpo, a 500 level student of the department of Agricultural Engineering was suspended in September, 2020 and later expelled by the institution’s management for allegedly criticising the state governor.
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The expelled student had through his lawyer, Inebehe Effiong sent a pre-action notice to the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Nse Essien, seeking his reinstatement among others.
But Emmanuel in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ekerette Udoh on Wednesday said the action taken by the University is purely administrative and has not connection with the governor who is the visitor to the institution
The statement reads in part “We have read various reports mainly on the social media space concerning the administrative sanction said to have been taken by the Management of the Akwa Ibom State University against one of its students, Iniobong Ekpo, leading to his expulsion from the University.
“We have equally followed the media feeding frenzy by the usual motely crowd of political jobbers and inveterate rabble rousers who have maliciously tried to link the action taken by the university authority to the Visitor of the University, His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel.
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“We wish to state here emphatically that Governor Emmanuel, a known apostle of freedom of expression, was and is still not aware of this purely administrative action reportedly undertaken by the university.
“He has accordingly, directed the constitution of a Panel comprising five members, to review the case and submit its report immediately. The Panel is to be headed by the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Idongesit Etiebet”.
