The management of the University of Benin, Edo State have suspended the Students Union Government, SUG over its attack on the Edo State Labour Party’s governorship candidate Olumide Akpata at the Senior Staff Club on the 12th of April, 2024.
A letter signed by the Registrar A. A. Bobola on the 29th of April stated that the suspension which takes immediate effect was reached after due consideration following the bizarre incident.
It also directed the SUG to hand over all properties of the Union in their possession to the Dean of Student Affairs no later than 30th April 2024.
The statement read, “The university management has received the report of the panel constituted to investigate the incidents that occurred in the Faculty of Law and the University’s Senior Staff Club on Friday, April 12, 2024.
“After due consideration of the report by the management, the Vice Chancellor has approved the suspension of the university’s students’ union.
“The suspension which is
indefinite, takes immediate effect, that is, from Monday, April 29, 2024.
“Accordingly, all officers of the students’ union are to hand over all properties of the union in their possession to the Dean, Students’ Affairs not later than 4pm on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
“In the interim, a Caretaker Committee composed of representatives of faculties, schools, and institutes has been approved to coordinate students’ activities during the period of suspension.
“The above directive of the Vice Chancellor is hereby communicated for the attention of the university community and compliance of the erstwhile union officers as appropriate.”
Akpata had attended an investiture ceremony on the invitation of the UNIBEN Staff Club when the venue was attacked by suspected hoodlums, some of whom eyewitnesses report, were accompanying the President of the Student Union Government (SUG).
The assault left a university Lecturer seriously injured, and his life nearly taken by a brutal axe blow to the back of his head.
Meanwhile, the University management condemned the attack and thereafter set up a committee to investigate the remote and immediate cause of the violent attack. The committee was given one week to submit its report to the management.
