UNIABUJA VC Appointment Crisis Gets Messier As DSS Invites Three Professors For Questioning
The professors invited are; M.A. Katcha, Abdul Buba of Faculty of Science, Department of Physics and Kasim Waziri of Faculty of Law, Department of Law.
Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Services (DSS) has invited three professors of the University of Abuja for questioning following the crisis surrounding the selection of substantive Vice-Chancellor of the institution.
The professors invited are; M.A. Katcha, Abdul Buba of Faculty of Science, Department of Physics and Kasim Waziri of Faculty of Law, Department of Law.
SaharaReporters gathered on Monday that the invitation of the lecturers was connected to their position against the illegal process of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of the University, Air Vice-Marshal Saddiq Ismaila Kaita (rtd) imposed on the joint selection board to ensure that the acting Vice Chancellor Prof Aisha Maikudi is selected.
Sources told SaharaReporters that while Prof Waziri, a Senate member to the joint selection board was being invited for questioning on why he walked out on the Joint Selection Board meeting penultimate Monday, professors Katcha and Buba were invited for questioning over their role during the Friday’s aborted extraordinary Senate Council meeting which the acting vice-chancellor called and absconded.
“Prof Abdul is an internal member of council who opposed every of their illegal decisions. Prof M A Katcha was a former DVC whom we elected as an alternate VC to chair the senate meeting on 24th December because we formed quorum to that effect by law after the acting Vice-Chancellor refused to show up after inviting all the senators for the meeting,” one of the sources told SaharaReporters.
SaharaReporters had reported on December 24 that a tense scene unfolded at the University of Abuja on Tuesday afternoon when the acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Aisha Maikudi, reportedly deployed over 30 local vigilantes to disrupt a Senate meeting, allegedly assaulting professors in the process.
It had been reported that professors at the university staged a protest earlier before the meeting against the selection process for the new Vice-Chancellor, sparking a heated controversy within the institution.
At the heart of the issue is the alleged attempt by the acting Vice Chancellor and some others to manipulate the selection process.
In a move that has sparked outrage, the acting VC scheduled a meeting for Tuesday at 9am to replace Senate members on the joint selection board who refused to endorse a rigged selection process.
The Senate members were elected to the board to ensure a fair and transparent appointment of the new Vice-Chancellor, but it seems the acting VC is trying to undermine their efforts.
The university has been plagued by accusations of improper procedures and favoritism in the selection process, with sources alleging that the acting VC, Aisha Maikudi, is being imposed on the institution despite not meeting the initial criteria for the position.
According to sources, the move is seen as a desperate attempt to impose Prof. Maikudi as the VC, taking advantage of the holiday season when many Senate members are away.
Drama, however, unfolded at the University when a meeting scheduled for 9am last Tuesday was pushed back to 11:30 am, leaving members waiting patiently.
Just as they were expecting the meeting to start, Prof. Afaha, the DVC Admin, arrived at 12:03 pm to deliver an apology from the Acting VC, a source had told SaharaReporters. The apology stated that the meeting had to be suspended at the request of the Council Chairman to allow for further consultation.
However, the Senate members were having none of it – they were incensed and shouted at Afaha to leave, refusing to accept the apology.
The scene was apparently unpleasant, with Afaha making a swift exit. In response, the members decided to hold their own meeting to come up with a resolution, which would then be forwarded to the Council Chairman.
It was at this point when the senators were in deliberation that over 30 local security sent by the acting VC stormed the Senate Chamber and manhandle and chased them out from the chamber.
However, the DSS invitation letter from the FCT Command, and addressed to the acting Vice Chancellor seeking permission to release those professors indicated that the reason for their invitation has to do with “security interest”.
The letter signed by Y. Zakari for State Director Service (SDS) and dated December 27, 2024 is titled: “letter of invitation to interview the State Director of Security, FCT Command”.
The letter SaharaReporters sighted on Monday partly read: “The Service, State Security Service (SSS) write, requesting the authority of University of Ahuja to release the following persons to interview the Director, Department of State Services (SSS) on matters that have to do with security interest.
“MA. KATCHA (Prof)
“Abdul BUBA (Prof): Faculty of Science, Department of Physics University of Abuja.
“Kasim WAZIRI (Prof): Faculty of Law, Department of Law, University of Abuja.
“Your cooperation will be appreciated as their response to this invitation will go a long way to harmonize the institution in future. Above is for your strict compliance,” it read.
