The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions and the National Universities Commission (NUC) on Tuesday in Abuja appealed to the authorities of the Madonna University, Nigeria to release the transcripts of two former students of the University recently accused of cultism and other vices. The appeal was sequel to the shocking discovery that the two ex-students failed to complete their academic activities in the school and therefore did not qualify to be issued with certificates.

The decision was the outcome of the last sitting of the committee on the petition brought against the University by the students at the National Assembly. At the hearing of Committee on April 30th 2019 chaired by Hon. Nkem Abonta, the representative of the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Mr. Chris Maiyaki, who also is the Director, Office of the Executive Secretary, submitted his report to the committee. The report indicated that the two estranged students have not completed their course work as alleged and therefore not qualified to be issued Madonna University Certificates. The students’ reported academic records, according to the report, showed that Mr Okoye Ifeanyi Stanley attempted 400 level courses in the Department of Civil Engineering of the University out of which he failed fourteen (14) courses.

The report further showed that he was yet to proceed to the 500 level where he will be expected to register fifteen (15) 500 level courses. In all, the report showed that he has a total of twenty nine (29) courses to register and pass before possible graduation. On the second petitioner, Mr. Ga-Lim Aondofa Lord, the University records showed that he had a total of twelve failed courses he must remedy before a possible graduation.

Following from the above revelations, the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions appealed to the University to send the academic transcripts of the two former students to Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka based on the students’ request. The Vice-Chancellor of Madonna University, Nigeria, Prof. Chuks Ezedum, assured the committee of his readiness to issue the two former students’ their transcripts within two weeks.

The committee also cautioned parents to desist from supporting their children blindly so as to curtail the menace of cultism which they observed has permeated the fabrics of the society including the primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Following the University’s acceptance of the appeal to issue the students’ academic transcripts to enable them pursue their dreams, the committee Chairman, Abonta declared the petition resolved and closed.

The two ex-students had earlier dragged the institution to court in Suit No. FHC/ENKS/50/2015; Ifeanyi Okoye & 2 Vrs. Governing Council, Madonna University but however lost the case and never appealed against the judgment till date. Later, they petitioned the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission, Abuja; the President, National Association of Nigerian Students, among others but the agencies and organisations petitioned recognised the competency of the courts and conceded that the matter before the courts be exhausted.

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