Re- 'Ambrose Alli Destruction': The facts of the case, truth about Wesley Ifiabor

By The Editor.

The attention of the Management of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma has been drawn to an online report making the rounds on social media, in which a former staff of the University made allegations of 'destruction of the University' against the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Asomwan Sonnie Adagbonyin. In the report, which the Management believes was sponsored by persons who have issues against the present Management, the Acting Vice Chancellor was accused of impunity in the running of the University. 

According to a statement issued in Ekpoma by the University's Acting Registrar, Ambrose E. Odiase, copies of which were made available to Newsmen, the Management says " the Acting Vice Chancellor does not know Wesley Ifiabor personally let alone subjecting him to the things being alleged in the report. 

"By the tissues of lies contained in the report, it can simply be described as yet another attempt by agents of darkness to vilify those who have been working hard to put a stop to the reign of bad influences in Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. Rather than appreciate the sacrifices made by Professor Adagbonyin-led administration to ensure that all these bad influences are curtailed and routed, with those found culpable shown the way out,  it is condemnation all the way.”

Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma's Acting Registrar, Ambrose E. Odiase, further said: "Mr Wesley ifiabor was given a temporary appointment as a graduate assistant in the University on the 11th September, 2020. He was requested to present his NYSC discharge certificate, which is a prerequisite for appointment in any government establishment. He brought an NYSC discharge certificate with the name  'IFIABOR Lucky' with No.(19)A001460753, dated 15th July 2020. Upon this, he was given a letter of appointment as a graduate assistant.

"Later on, upon the recommendation of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria that nursing staff with professional certificates be given an enhanced position, the then Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Benson Osadolor approved the upgrading of Mr. Ifiabor to the position of Assistant Lecturer on temporary appointment.

"Mr. Wesley Ifiabor applied for confirmation of appointment on 24th March 2022 at a time his temporary appointment had lapsed. He needed to have his appointment regularised through a formal interview. By the Staff Rules and Regulations, once a staff’s temporary appointment lapses, he/she is automatically no longer a staff. 

"However, the new Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor A. S. Adagbonyin, in his magnanimity, forwarded the request to the Acting Registrar who advised that for Wesley Ifiabor to remain as a staff member and be qualified for confirmation, his temporary appointment had first to be renewed, while he awaited the regularisation of his appointment through a formal interview. This recommendation was approved by the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor A. S. Adagbonyin, and Mr. Ifiabor's temporary appointment was renewed.”

Going further, Mr. Odiase stated: “Mr. Wesley Ifiabor was requested to present himself for formalisation of appointment to enable his confirmation as a tenured staff to be made. The panel was the College of Medicine Review and Appraisal Panel. The Acting Vice-Chancellor is not a member, and he was not at the panel. The Panel was chaired by the then Provost of the College of Medicine, Professor G.B.S. Iyalomhe. It was in the process that Mr. Wesley Ifiabor was reported to have brought his credentials and an NYSC discharge certificate - IFIABOR Lucky (20) A 004607110, dated 9th November 2021, which was different from what he had in his file in the College and also different from the one he has in his service file in the University Personnel Services Division. 

"The College of Medicine Review and Appraisal Panel submitted its findings through the Secretary of the Panel, Barr. Ifenlio Nwabudike, to the Acting Vice-Chancellor. This report was what led to the dismissal of Mr. Wesley Ifiabor from the service of Ambrose Alli University. Without any fear or contradiction, the forging of the NYSC discharge certificate or possession of two NYSC discharge certificates is a criminal offence that the security agencies and the authorities of NYSC should look into,” Ambrose Odiase said.

Defending the action of the University Management, Mr. Odiase affirmed: “The University Management acted in line with universal best practices and also in the best interest of the University by dismissing Mr. Wesley Ifiabor.”

The AAU Acting Registrar further said: "On the involvement of the police, Mr. Wesley Ifiabor definitely called for it as he was said to have issued a life threat to the then Provost, Prof. G.B.S. Iyalomhe, who reported it to the Management as well as incidented it at the police station. Added to this was the memo by the Head of Nursing Science Department, which also reported that Mr. Wesley Ifiabor left with examination scripts of students and an official laptop which he had been using while he was Examination Officer of the Department of Nursing Science. The laptop contained students’ results and records and the scripts themselves were outcomes of examinations in two courses whose results are crucial to the academic advancement of Nursing Students at the given level.

"To recover the scripts and laptop from him, the Chief Security Officer had to be invited to use the paraphernalia of his office. We are not aware that the CSO had used any untoward or unorthodox means of dealing with the issue nor had he even met the complainant’s wife to be harassing her as alleged.

"The Acting Vice-Chancellor had nothing to do with whatever travails the former staff of the University has been going through as alleged by the reports. The matter at hand was never one for which the Acting Vice Chancellor required to be begged and there is no evidence that he ever asked a man he did not even know beyond his name to come and beg for mercy as alleged. 

"Management would, therefore, advise Mr. Ifiabor and all those who are sponsoring him to desist from circulating blatant lies and falsehood designed to cast aspersions on the efforts being made by the Acting Vice Chancellor and the University Management to follow the disciplinary procedures outlined in the rule book governing the services of staff in the University.

" It certainly cannot be impunity or the destruction of a University if an Acting Vice Chancellor takes the required action in the face of wanton violation of the rules and regulations of a University. This Management will refuse to be distracted,” the AAU Acting Registrar declared.