The management of the University of Benin, Edo State, on Tuesday, announced the indefinite suspension of the school’s Students’ Union Government.
The varsity Registrar, Ademola Bobola, said in a statement that the SUG suspension was connected with the April 12 mayhem on the campus during the visit of the Edo State Labour Party governorship candidate, Olumide Akpata, who is an alumnus of the institution.
Akpata, who is seeking to become the next Governor of Edo State, was said to have attended an interactive session organised by the University of Benin Staff Club on the Ugbowo campus of the university.
The gathering was said to have been disrupted by some hoodlums with a senior lecturer, Dr Presley Osemwegie, injured during the melee.
The students’ leadership and Akpata had been trading blame over the incident.
While the students claimed that Akpata unleashed his security personnel on students, the lawyer-turned-politician said the attackers were sponsored by his political opponents.
The university registrar, in a statement on Monday night, said its authorities probed the incidents and decided to suspend the SUG indefinitely.
Bobola said, “The university management has received the report of the panel constituted to investigate the incidents that occurred in the Faculty of Law and the University’s Senior Staff Club on Friday, April 12, 2024.
“After due consideration of the report by the management, the Vice Chancellor has approved the suspension of the university’s Students Union.
“The suspension, which is indefinite, takes immediate effect, that is, from Monday, April 29, 2024.
“Accordingly, all officers of the Students’ Union are to hand over all properties of the union in their possession to the Dean, Students’ Affairs not later than 4 pm on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
“In the interim, a Caretaker Committee, composed of representatives of faculties, schools and institutes, has been approved to coordinate students’ activities during the period of suspension.”
