Culled from
Vanguard
About 200 students may have been expelled by the authorities of
Covenant University, Cannanland, Ota, Ogun State, recently for what was
described as “disregard of paramount core values.”
Frustrated and angered by the development, some of the affected
students who gave account of what happened battled emotions while
narrating their situations to Saturday Vanguard recently. They however
pleaded with the school authorities to tamper justice with mercy in
order to save their future.
Saturday Vanguard investigation revealed that out of the figure,
about 126 were expelled for not attending the ‘departure service’, meant
to sign off from the school after the end of the Semester and
Matriculation of students on November 30. Five other students were
thrown out for smoking while unconfirmed source said additional 60 got
the same fate for violating other rules bordering on the University’s
core values. A few others were given four weeks suspension for failure
to sign the head count that was conducted a couple of weeks earlier.
A letter of expulsion signed by the Registrar, Ntia Ubong, a copy
which was made available to Saturday Vanguard stated that the affected
students contravened Chapter 1, section 30, page 40 of the 2010-2014
Student Handbook.
We gathered that the massive expulsion was predicated on the anger of
the Chancellor, Bishop David Oyedepo who was said to have been
infuriated after seeing students loitering around when they were
supposed to be at the Chapel for the Departure Service.
He was said to have personally chased students to the Chapel and
ordered for a search into all the halls and colleges to fish out those
who did not attend the service.
Several attempts to get the school authorities comment on the issue
proved abortive. The Instituion’s Corporate Affairs Head, Mr Igban
Emmaunel also refused to comment as calls pulled through to him were
unanswered and text messages not replied.
How it happened
A few of the affected students gave account of what happened to Saturday
Vanguard at different points. The similar accounts go thus: “On
November 30, the last day of the semester, preceding our December break,
there was also a Matriculation for the 100 level students; in fact some
students had their last semester exams on that day, some of them
finished around 3:00pm while the matriculation started around 8am. Some
students retired to their rooms to relax while some engaged in some
other activities jubilating the end of the semester.
“Some also got drinks from the matriculating students. Even as these
were going on, some students who finished around 3pm retired to their
halls. By 5pm, they announced that we should get prepared for the
‘Departure service’ which was to start by 8pm. Some students were
already seeing their parents off while some of us were just trying to
relax to get off the stress of the exams.
“Most of us hadn’t gotten through the tiredness of the sleepless
nights of the exams; so, some us stayed back in our rooms. The departure
service is usually a day before we go home and it is usually presided
over by the Chancellor. Before the commencement of the service, they
used to lock up the main doors of the halls so as to prevent cases of
theft. I was not bothered since there were a lot of us in the hall. Some
minutes past 8pm, they switched off the light and all of us in the hall
went into our rooms. Because of the darkness and the cold, I slept off
immediately.”
He continued: “The persistent knocks on the door woke me up and I
realised that they had come to search for people who had not come to
service. Before I realised what was going on, I found myself with other
students numbering about 30. They took down our names and counted us to
make sure that no one was omitted. They said the Chancellor was at the
service and we refused to come. I heard them talking about other halls
and they asked us to wait. I didn’t take it seriously because I never
believed in my widest imagination that we would be expelled. We were
later asked to go to our various halls.
“Some of those who went into hiding were lucky as they were not
found. Shortly, those who went for the service returned and told us
there was poor attendance at the Chapel and how students were diving in
through the windows, scampering for seats. In fact, one narrated to us
how the Chancellor jumped through the window to vent his anger on some
students who had jumped in,” he stated.
Another expelled student also gave similar account of the incident.
“I couldn’t go to the service because, I was not feeling well which was
as a result of the stress of the exams we had just finished. After a
while, I managed to go but I heard that they started driving people back
around 7:30pm while the service was to start around 8pm. I was
surprised because the rule was that you’ve got to be seated 15minutes to
the service. Again, it was never made compulsory, but they tried to get
students out of the halls to prevent cases of theft. So, because I was
not feeling well, I went back to my room because I needed to rest for a
while.
“I thought it was a joke when they said we are in for expulsion
because we failed to come for departure service. I have never done
anything contrary to the school laws. I have never faced any panel
before and neither did I have any unpleasant case in my file. I never
thought it was real until letters were handed to me the following
morning.”
Giving account of how letters were handed out to them, the visibly
troubled student said: “By 6am, they announced the names of those who
were caught in halls and colleges. Usually after the departure service,
one can sign out from there and go but because it ended late and no one
could travel, students had to wait till the following morning. But the
hall officer told those of us whose names were written down that if we
leave, we should be considered gone from the university forever. That
gave us an insight into what was likely to come as punishment. By
7:45am, we were called once again to go downstairs for our letters.
Those who collected theirs before mine were crying and I wondered what
the punishment could be until I read the letter stating I was expelled
from the university.”
At the Chapel
Another student who found his way to the Chapel also told Saturday
Vanguard that while the Chancellor was being driven past, he noticed
that students were loitering at about the time they were supposed to be
seated at the chapel. He said that this apparently infuriated him and he
alighted from his car and chased students to the chapel with knocks. “I
saw him, alighted from his car and chased students to the chapel; I
quickly found my way to the hall. Not quite long after, I saw students
jumping in through the windows. It was a big commotion. Even the
chancellor was going after those who jumped into the chapel. Later, he
addressed the students saying he was very disappointed by the behaviour
that the students were not seated 15 minutes before the service.”
Another account had it that while the Education Secretary, Prof. Aize
Obayan was addressing the students, the students were murmuring, then
the Chancellor immediately took to the microphone and said: “if I hear
the voice of any student, the curse of the Lord shall fall upon that
one.” The chapel immediately went dead silent.
Our source who was also late to the service stated that the
Chancellor later directed that those students who did not come to the
service would be purged out saying they did not belong to the school.
Our source stated that at the end of the service, he prayed for the
students in the hall.
Another source in the school hinted that at that point, the
Vice-chancellor pleaded on behalf of those who were absent but the
Chancellor insisted they must be purged from the school.
Our source told Saturday Vanguard that the Vice-Chancellor while
addressing the students announced that a search would be carried out
in all the halls and colleges to find out those who failed to attend the
departure service, advising them to wait behind.
Saturday Vanguard investigation revealed that out of the figure,
about 126 were expelled for not attending the ‘departure service’,
five were thrown out for smoking marijuana, twenty-five final year
students and undisclosed number of lower level students were caught
violating rules bothering on the University’s core values. We also
gathered that a few others were given four weeks suspension for failure
to sign the head count that was conducted a couple of weeks earlier.
Some of the students opined that failure to sign the head count was
even a greater offence which implied that the student was not in the
school at the time of the exercise but yet got a four-week suspension.
The private university is known for its strict rules and discipline
such as not allowing the students to use mobile phones within the
school’s premises, while it is mandatory for students to always bring
their bible to the chapel.
Parents react
A few parents who volunteered information spoke to us on condition of
anonymity fearing that their children might be victimised in case the
issue was resolved amicably. One of them said with bitterness that it
is unacceptable, adding that the expulsion was not commensurate with the
offence deemed to have been committed. He urged the school authorities
to rescind its decision adding that the future of the students is at
stake.
“For me, it is not acceptable. These students were not given fair
hearing. Expulsion should not be a punishment for failure to attend
service. We all agree, it is a Christian school but failure to attend
church service could be due to a lot of reasons. I gathered that some of
the students even finished their exams about 5pm that day. So, those
people that finished at that time had barely three hours to prepare for
the service. But stampeding them to congregate for service and then
expelling those who did not come is a decision taken too far. For me, if
there was poor attendance, I think the authorities have a
responsibility. They have not been fair in putting the service so close
to the examination. Even God will not do that.”
He however commended the Chancellor, Dr. Oyedepo on his vision
towards the education of Nigeria children especially when the government
institutions are failing, but urging him to tamper justice with mercy.
Another parent who was afraid of the press noted that he was still
studying the situation and would not want to comment but noted that he
was reliably informed that some group of parents made frantic efforts to
meet with the Chancellor on the issue but without success. It was not
clear the level of the efforts made. He further hinted that some
students have not told their parents about their expulsion, still hoping
that the issue would be resolved.
He lamented that his child had been having sleepless nights, going
through mental torture unjustifiably. “I agree that discipline must be
instilled in the students but it should not be aimed at destroying the
life of the students. Expulsion is too great a punishment for non
attendance of a departure service, without even a warning especially
when the students hitherto, had not been found wanting,” he stated.
What the Student Handbook says
The Covenant University Core values border on Spirituality, Possibility
Mentality, Capacity Building, Integrity, Responsibility, Diligence and
Sacrifice. On the spirituality aspect, it states: “The Christian ethos
underguard our activities and conducts at all time and every student of
Covenant University is expected to exhibit character traits and
dispositions of a Jesus-centered heritage. The Jesus – factor centered
approach to all issues is non-negotiable and central in the pursuit of
our mandate in raising a new generation of leaders and in the
realization of the objectives of our purpose.
To this extent therefore, students will be committed to maintaining a
high level of spirituality and shall act in such manner as to
facilitate their spiritual growth as well as work out ways to evolve and
implement a spiritual development plan. Attendance at Chapel Services
is a compulsory part of students’ spiritual development where a bible
and notebook are essential kits for the service. Students are expected
to demonstrate a deep reverence for God at all times.”
The school declines comment
Several attempts were made to get the school authorities comment on the
issue. The institution’s Corporate/Public Affairs Officer, Mr Igban
Emmanuel Kalu declined comment. At first, several calls were pulled
through to him but he refused to pick his calls. When the reporter
persisted, he later picked but said he was driving and could not answer
any question. But few hours later, other calls pulled to him were
unanswered. A text message was sent to his phone and up to the time of
writing this report, he did not reply.
I’m not aware —Prof Julius Okojie, NUC Executive Secretary
The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, NUC,
Prof Julius Okojie said he has not been briefed on the matter.
Prof Okojie stated this during a telephone conversation Saturday
Vanguard had with him a few days ago. “I am not aware of any expulsion
by Covenant University; I will ask the school authorities. Right now, I
am not in Abuja, I left Abuja few days ago and until I return to Abuja
and find out details about the matter, I cannot comment on it,” he said.
Source: Vanguard
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