An Edo based legal practitioner; Olayiwola Afolabi Esq. has ordered the authorities of the University Of Benin under the Leadership of Prof. Faraday Osasere Orumwense as the Vice Chancellor of Uniben, in 30 days recall one Mr Maxwell Oshodin an Assistant Registrar of the University who is on interdiction over an alleged Defamation of Character case.
Olayiwola who described the “Interdiction” on the UNIBEN staff as frivolous and baseless accused the institution of conniving with some powerful persons to witch-hunt and frustrate Oshodin’s ambition to run for the position of Secretary General of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, (SSANU) election which will be held soon.
He said the basis on which the interdiction was served was not in clear terms of what was stipulated in Chapter XII, section 4 (A-O) of the Regulations Governing the Service of Senior Staff noting that Mr Oshodin committed no serious offence as stated.
While stating that Defamation of Character is not a criminal offence, he stressed that his client has not been pronounced guilty of the presumed offence adding that such action was taken without fair hearing.
According to him, “The letter under reference with the caption, “INTERDICTION” is a calculated attempt to frustrate our client’s ambition to contest the position of Secretary General of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, (SSANU) election to be held soon
“That the ground for his interdiction is frivolous and baseless having not committed any serious Misconduct as clearly spelt in Chapter XII, section 4 (A-O) of the Regulations Governing the Service of Senior Staff, University of Benin, Benin City neither has he been convicted of any criminal charge by a competent court. Specifically and strictly speaking, our client has no case with the University or any staff pending whatsoe “That from all intents and all purpose, there is an unholy alliance and a gang-up amongst the power that be to witch-hunt and eliminate our client completely from service and to thwart or frustrate his ambition to contest the SSANU election as can be gleaned from the content of the letter under reference. He continued, “Firstly, defamation of Character of any sort is not a criminal offence. Any person who feels defamed can only take out to civil suit against the defamer.
“Secondly, that there was a letter allegedly written from the office of State Intelligence and Investigation Bureau of the Nigeria Police, State Headquarters, Benin City addressed to the office of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin alleging an offence of conspiracy and defamation of character against our client do not suffice to criminalize the alleged offence.
“And thirdly, our client has not been pronounced guilty (as alluded to from the letter under reference) of any crime including the one he is being persecuted for resulting in his interdiction without even hearing from him as a matter of fair-hearing.
“It is against the foregoing that we write on the instruction of our client to demand that our client be recall to work within thirty (30) days. Should you fail, refuse or neglect to heed to our demand, we shall not hesitate to ventilate our client’s grievances in a competent court in order to seek redress against this injustice and witch-hunting of our client”. He stated.
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