Surcharge: UNIUYO VC may be dragged to court

Following the decision of the management of the University of Uyo to slam some sum of money on the students as a result of the wreckage that accompanied the June 12 mayhem where properties were destroyed, a law chamber based in Anambra has decided to wade into the matter with a call on the university management to rescind its decision of charging the students a fine otherwise face a legal action.

In a letter captioned ‘pre action notice’ and addressed to the Governing Council of the University of Uyo through the Vice Chancellor, the principal partner of  Ewa Hermmes and associates the firm interested in the matter noted that “In view of the decision of the University of Uyo Governing Council at its 61st meeting of 25th and 26th  September 2013 to surcharge the entire students of the University of Uyo for destruction of the institution’s properties during the June 12th 2013 students crisis perpetuated by only a fraction of the entire students population.

It is our belief that it is morally and constitutionally wrong to punish the entire students and by extension parents without giving them the opportunity to prove their alibi or other wise and we are to this extent wont to have the matter redressed by a court of competent jurisdiction.

However, we respectfully appeal to you to reconsider the said decision.
Please, be advised that this courtesy absolves us of the legal obligation to apprise you of our intention  here of to have the matter prosecuted in event of which we shall not hesitate to demand a total refund with interest on the monies already collected”.

The letter of the pre action notice is signed by Okpo Ewa Edmund and copied to the relevant financial institutions that are charged with the responsibilities of collecting the money.

It could be recalled that the University of Uyo was shut down for over six months after the ugly incident that claimed a life and touched many University of Uyo properties including the VC’s office. Upon resumption, the school management had mandated students to pay from seven thousand five hundred naira and above depending on the department and termed the fee ‘surcharge fees’. 

Findings show that a greater percentage of the students had already paid the money.   

23rd December, 2013

THE GOVERNING COUNCIL,
UNIVERSITY OF UYO,
PMB 1017, UYO,
AKWA IBOM STATE.

THROUGH:

THE OFFICE OF THE VICE CHANCELLOR,

Sir,

PRE ACTION NOTICE

In view of the decision of the University of Uyo Governing Council at its 61st meeting of 25th and 26th  September 2013 to surcharge the entire students of the University of Uyo for destruction of the institution’s properties during the June 12th 2013 students crisis perpetuated by only a fraction of the entire students population. It is our belief that it is morally and constitutionally wrong to punish the entire students and by extension parents without giving them the opportunity to prove their alibi or other wise and we are to this extent wont to have the matter redressed by a court of competent jurisdiction.
However, we respectfully appeal to you to reconsider the said decision.
Please, be advised that this courtesy absolves us of the legal obligation to apprise you of our intention  here of to have the matter prosecuted in event of which we shall not hesitate to demand a total refund with interest on the monies already collected.  
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,

………………………….
Okpo Ewa E. Esq.
Humanity Chambers, Uyo.


C.C:
THE MANAGER,
UNIVERSITY OF UYO
MICROFINANCE BANK,
UYO;

THE MANAGER
ZENITH BANK PLC,
UYO;

THE MANAGER,
UBA PLC,
UYO;

THE MANAGER,
WEMA BANK PLC,
UYO;

THE MANAGER,
ECO BANK PLC,
UYO;

THE MANAGER,
SKYE BANK PLC,
UYO.