News Investigators/ The leadership of the Federal Polytechnic Oko, Alumni Association, has distanced itself from a suit filed against the institution’s rector, Chioma Awuzie.
President of the association, Henry Nnebe, said on Sunday in Abuja that it was necessary to clear the air following the deliberate peddling of falsehood and misinformation against the association.
Mr Nnebe who spoke through the association’s lawyer Mr Nnaemeka Ejiofor, said that every legal step would be taken to correct the misinformation.
“This Public Notice/Press Release has therefore become imperative in order to set the records straight and assuage the concerns of our beloved alma mater Federal Polytechnic Oko, which is under a new Rebirth.”
NAN reports that an alumnus of the institution, Blessing Okeke, instituted a case at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in the Awka Judiciary Division against the rector, the Governing Council of the Polytechnic, and the registrar.
Also joined in the suit are the Minister of Education, and Henry Nnebe, the National President, Federal Polytechnic Oko Alumni Association.
Mr Nnebe, through the association’s lawyer, however, said that they cannot be dragging the management to court when it is committed to the growth and development of the Polytechnic.
“The general Public are hereby put on notice and we state categorically that Blessing Okeke who deposed to being a 2003 graduate of the Federal Polytechnic Oko and as such an Alumnus of the polytechnic, stated clearly in the affidavit that she is the Plaintiff in the suit.
“In accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Polytechnic Oko Alumni Association Article 2, section 6, Okeke as alumnus is entitled to rights, benefits and privileges of members, particularly freedom of expression, fair hearing as guaranteed by the Constitution.
“In accordance with Article 5, Section 1 of the constitution, Okeke or any alumnus cannot represent our client without express approval and this means that she does not represent the Federal Polytechnic Oko Alumni Association.
“She also does not have the mandate or approval of the Alumni National President or National Executive Council to represent the association in her present suit, in line with Article 5, Section 1 of our constitution.
“The Federal Polytechnic Oko Alumni Association is not mentioned in the affidavit by Okeke as being part of the plaintiff and does not associate itself with the suit.
“That the plaintiff named Henry Nnebe (National President, Federal Polytechnic Oko Alumni Association) as the 7th Defendant in the suit,” the lawyer said.
According to the lawyer, the National Executive Council has mandated the branch of the Alumni Association to which Okeke belongs to evoke forthwith the Alumni’s Constitution, Article 14 Section 1.
“The Alumni constitution says that each branch of the association shall have power to exercise disciplinary control over its members and may caution, suspend, impose a fine, or impose any other disciplinary sanction or punishment on any member whose conduct offends or is against this constitution.
“It must be noted that our client will not hesitate to seek appropriate redress against those who without cause seem intent on tarnishing, maligning and slandering the association that has contributed immensely to the growth of Polytechnic for over 40 years.
“Our client’s National Executive Council seizes this opportunity to call on our esteemed ‘Oko Polymath’ to remain resolute and dedicated to the vision of the institution.
“While our client is committed to the progress of all organs of their alma mater, it will not hesitate to make sure that things are done properly and constitutionally always.”
NAN
