The Vice Chancellor of Madonna University, Nigeria, Prof. Chuks Ezedum, on Tuesday in Abuja dismissed as false and mischievous insinuations in some quarters that parents and guardians were demanding the withdrawal of their children and wards from the institution.
Some media reports had alleged that the development was as result of the ongoing trial of some students and former students of the institution who were facing trials in a Federal High Court following some online publications made against the University.
The Vice- Chancellor said in a press conference in Abuja that the reported panic was false, malicious, unfounded and a figment of the imagination of the peddlers of such “rumour”.
He said there was never a single parent or guardian requesting the withdrawal of any of their students whatsoever, adding that at the time of the briefing, all the University’s staff and students were happily engaging in very productive teaching and learning in a very safe and friendly University environment.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that the fake news were invented by the families and allies of the students and former students who were charged to court by the Inspector General of Police.
The Vice- Chancellor pointed out that Madonna University did not charge anybody to court. He noted that the matter in court was not in any way between the accused persons and his University.
He also used the opportunity to berate the purported ultimatum issued to the University by some officials of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South East zone.
The Vice- Chancellor said the NANS officials ought to have known that Madonna University, Nigeria being a Private University has nothing in common with NANS as an organisation.
He said the students of his University are not members of NANS hence they have no business with the organization, adding that the University was not in any legal dispute with the accused former students since they are being prosecuted by the Nigerian government.
He called on the general public to be guided by the truth of the matter as given by him in the press conference.
Also speaking, the immediate past President of Madonna University, Nigeria Alumni Association Worldwide who also is a member of the Alumni Association’s Board of Trustees, Mr. Chima Achu, dismissed the purported panic by parents of Madonna University students as a lie and fake news.
Achu collaborated the information given by the Vice Chancellor to the effect that no student or former student of the University is being prosecuted by the University in any high Court.
He also confirmed that there was absolute peace in all the campuses of the University, pointing out that the persons under trial were being prosecuted by the Federal Government of Nigeria for alleged malicious and false publications.
He warned that the Madonna University Alumni Association was ready to challenge anybody who tries to tarnish the good image and hard-earned reputation of Madonna University Nigeria.
He reminded the media that the University has a track record of producing excellent graduates who are working all over the world with Madonna University Certificates. The University, he stated, remains a centre of academic and moral excellence.
Also, the spokesperson of the University, Mr. Martin Anagboso, wondered why any right-thinking person hiding under the guise of NANS or anything would want to run down the impeccable reputation of the University.
He described as a bare-faced lie the publications purporting that there was a panic in the University. He noted that the accused persons should focus on their matter and if they claim to be innocent they should prove same to the court.
He called on the students of the institution and their parents and guardians to disregard the lies peddled by mischief makers.
