Five academic staff of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) including three professors have dragged the management to a federal high court sitting in Enugu for alleged refusal to allow subsisting elected members of the governing council to exhaust their tenure.
They argued that they were elected for a four-year tenure as internal members of the governing board but have not been allowed to continue in office after the dissolution and reconstitution of governing councils of universities.
The staff alleged that the school authorities planned another election into the governing council of the school.
The applicants namely Professor Joshua Umeifekwem, Professor Uchenna Odo, Professor Kenneth Oforkansi, Mr. Finbar Eneogu and Dr. Aaron Agbo through their counsel, Chijioke Ezeh are praying the court for an interlocutory injunction restraining the university from conducting fresh election into the governing council of the institution pending the determination of the suit.
Joined in the suit with number FHC/E/CS/97 2024, are the University governing council, the Senate of the University, Vice Chancellor and pro-Chancellor of the institution.
They stated that by law, they remain internal members of the council and added that their membership was subject to election and not appointment.
The applicants are praying for an order compelling both parties in the suit to maintain the peace and status quo pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The applicants in a motion on notice said they were distinctively elected as internal members of the governing council of the University of Nigeria from the various categories of Senate, convocation, and congregation.
They stated that they have their distinct memoranda to the council, election results, a notice of meeting, and minutes of meetings.
The suit is equally urging the court to construe relevant provisions of the interpretation act as to what constitutes four years under the law.
The applicants disclosed that they have held several meetings with the 4th defendant who is the Vice Chancellor of the university.
No date has been fixed for a hearing on the suit.
Efforts to speak with the Vice Chancellor, Prof Arinze Igwe, on the development on Monday proved abortive.
