Akwa Ibom Gov Graduated From UNIUYO In 2004, Don Tells Tribunal
Written by Teniola Akerele on June 16, 2023
The Director of Academic Records, University of Uyo, Dr Ime Akpan, told the Governorship Petition Tribunal sitting in Uyo, the state capital, on Friday that Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, graduated from the institution in 2004.
Senator Bassey Albert of the Young Progressive Party had, in his petition before the tribunal, alleged that Eno didn’t go to school and was not a legitimate student of the University of Uyo.
The tribunal acting on Albert’s application had subpoenaed the university’s management over the allegations of certificate forgery he levelled against Pastor Eno.
But speaking as a subpoenaed witness at the Tribunal in Uyo on Friday, Akpan, said the fake result certificate bearing 98UG017806 did not emanate from the University of Uyo, adding that “Umo Eno graduated from the University of Uyo, but not with this registration number.
“My Lord, this document did not emanate from the University of Uyo. It is designed to mislead and deceive the court. This registration number belongs to Ugoji Chinenye, who was admitted to study Communication Arts.”
When further cross-examined, Dr Akpan, who told the tribunal he had worked at the university for 24 years, said the piece of evidence submitted by Senator Akpan to the court was forged.
“My Lord, this stamp is a forged stamp. We don’t recognise that stamp to be of the University of Uyo. It is to deceive the public and mislead the court,” he said.
On the letter of expulsion purportedly issued against Pastor Eno by the institution, Dr Akpan said, “Everything here is wrong. This document did not emanate from the University of Uyo.”
“The document tendered by OBA’s counsel is signed by one Daniel J. Akpan, said to be an Administrative Officer 1, but Dr. Akpan told the court thus “No, we don’t have any Administrative Officer 1 known as Daniel Akpan.”
”The Registrar has the authority to certify documents emanating from the University of Uyo and if he is not around, he can mandate the Director (which is me) to sign. Administrative Officer 1 is so low in rank to certify such “university documents.”
He also spotted what he observed as poor grammar in the document and added that “Eno passed out of the University of Uyo. His file is in the records of the University of Uyo.”
Under further cross-examination by Paul Usoro, counsel to Governor Eno, Dr Akpan said, “We don’t have this document in Umo Eno’s file. Umo Eno graduated in 2004”.
When asked how many Eno Umo Bassey do you have in the University of Uyo records,” Dr Akpan responded, “As a former Head of Records before becoming the Director of Academic Affairs, we have only one Eno Umo Bassey in the university records.
“I was in Records. I was the Senior Assistant Registrar; I screened Eno Umo Bassey. I got this from his file. That’s my signature there on the document.
“When it is time to screen students out of the university in their final year, the Records Officer writes to the Vice-Chancellor through the Registrar. I was in Records. I was the senior assistant registrar. I screened him.”
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof. Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, was also present in court to witness the proceedings.
