Cyprian was expelled from the University of Abuja on grounds of an alleged plan to protest against the proposed fees hike.
The Senate has urged the Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja to reinstate Igwe Chukwuemeka Cyprian as a bona-fide student of the University.
This is as it mandated the University to restore his access to the students portal and recommend him for mobilisation of the NYSC programme, having received an apology letter from him on the 3rd November 2023.
This resolution was sequel to the adoption of a report of the Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South).
Recall that the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions in November 2023, asked two students identified as Cyprian Igwe and Olamilekan Oladeru, who were expelled by the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) in July, to appear before them.
Both students who had finished their final-year examinations and were awaiting their results to proceed on the mandatory National Youth Service, were expelled over an alleged plan to protest against the proposed fees hike, if the school authorities refused, within five days, to back down on its decision.
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Following their expulsion, they both petitioned the Senate, seeking an intervention. They also requested the Senate to urge the University to reinstate them.
Cyprian who was the Director of Socials and Culture and Oladeru who was Director of Sports petitioned through Senators Victor Umeh (LP, AAnambra Central) and Fadahunsi Adenigba (PDP, Osun East) respectively.
However, after the petition was presented on the floor of the Senate, the Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions to probe into the issues.
Presenting the report, Imasuen noted that during its investigations, Cyprian had claimed that he was wrongfully accused of circulating false info and press release against the University.
He said, “On the 26th May 2023, he was arrested and detained by the head of intelligence unit on the instruction of the University authorities for 9 hours with his phone confisticated.
“He was not only issued with a rustication letter by the University Authority on 26th May, 2023, but was also barred from accessing the University of Abuja students portal and that will affect his graduation and mobilisation in the 2023 NYSC programme currently ongoing, thereby leaving him behind his classmates.”
He said the University has requested that Cyprian tenders and apology, of which he has done, before he can be reinstated and recommended for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
On her part, Senator Idiat Oluranti (APC, Lagos West) urged her colleagues to insure a warning on other student, not to embark on similar acts in the future.
“As much as I want to agree with the committee on the investigation, i want to suggest that it is necessary to put a caveat in the letter to say that such acts will not be tolerated in the future,” she maintained.
