Legislator kicks, as university sends him ‘rustication’ letter

A member of Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Ginger Onwusibe has cried out over a letter of ‘rustication’ for one session sent to him by Abia State university, Uturu, his Alma Mater.

Onwusibe, who recently left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Labour Party (LP), attributed his predicament to his exit from PDP and his motion in the House of Assembly stopping outrageous school fees in Abia State University.

Abia State University had in a letter dated 1/6/2022 and signed by Dr Acho Elendu, Registrar, informed Onwusibe that he had been ‘rusticated’ for one academic session in ABSU for alleged examination misconduct.

The management of ABSU explained that the decision followed a recommendation by an investigative panel set up by the school to probe alleged examination malpractice involving the legislator, where according to the school, Onwusibe was found guilty.

But Onwusibe, who spoke on the issue on Sunday, advised his Alma Mater against being a ready tool for political witch-hunt, maintaining that he was never involved in any examination malpractice as contained in the letter sent to him by ABSU.

He noted that he already got First Degree and a Master’s degree in the school before he got admission to study Law, which he is in presently in final year.

“My ordeal began barely one week after I moved a motion on the floor of the Abia State House of Assembly condemning the arbitrary, unnecessary and unprecedented high increase in the school fees of our revered state-owned University and my dear alma mater and school, Abia State University, Uturu.

While moving the motion, I drew the attention of the House in details on how the fees were sharply increased up to 150% and that this will work extreme hardship on our poor parents. Of course, after my motion, the House of Assembly summoned the then Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ikonne to appear before it.”

Onwusibe continued, “The video of my said motion went viral on different fora on social media platforms. This did not go down well with Prof. Ikonne who called me privately to complain that he is not happy with me for the motion I had moved and that I should not have moved such because we are both brothers from Isiala Ngwa.”

“Few days after my said motion, we began our 2018/2019 first semester examinations and I was in my second year. On the day for our Constitutional Law (LAW 217) examination, I was sick and had not come for the examination.
However, later on that day, the news went viral that I was caught in examination malpractice; while some say I was caught in the act, others say that someone was caught writing examination for me. I learnt that one Oparah Chidera Hackney (a boy who I never knew until this incident and who I may not even recognize now) had claimed he was writing examination for me, Ginger Onwusibe.”

According to Onwusibe, he was invited by the then Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Sam Erugo, (SAN) for a probe into the incident, explaining that he was shown the answer script which they had recovered from the alleged impersonator, Oparah Chidera Hackney who claimed he was writing exam for him.

The Ntigha- born legislator noted that on close scrutiny, it was allegedly discovered that the matriculation number used by the said impostor Oparah Chidera Hackney was different from his (Onwusibe’) matriculation number.

“Some weeks later, I was called on phone by one Prof. Uduma of the Political Science Department who informed me that he is heading an Investigative Panel on an alleged examination malpractice by me. He informed me of the day they will sit. It should be noted that they never formally served me a written invitation summoning me to the panel. The panel consisted of the said Prof. Uduma and Dr. Chizoba Okpara among a few other staff of the University.

He stated he was not found guilty of the said exam malpractice, adding that he even re-registered for the course in his third year which he re-wrote and passed.

He further lamented that powerful persons in Abia State government house and the PDP were behind the letter of ‘Rustication’, just to destroy his political ambition.

Recall that an Abia State University the Investigative Panel in its reports, said;

“In consideration of the findings and recommendations of the report of Investigative Panel on the alleged examination misconduct by you, Mr Onwusibe Ginger Obinna, having been aided by Opara Chidera Hackney and Anthony Ugonna during the 2018/2019 academic session, the management noted as follows :

“That Opara Chidera Hackney admitted impersonating you Onwusibe Ginger Obinna on mutual agreement in the first semester and second semester 2018/2019 examinations in the following courses Law 211- Family Law, Law 225- Legal System and Law 217- Constitutional Law.”

The school continued, “That having established the fact that the answer booklets in the above examinations papers which were in your name but in the hand writing of Opara Chidera Hackney, you were found guilty of examination misconduct.”

It added that as recommended by the Investigative Panel in accordance with the university’s academic regulations, that Onwusibe had been ‘rusticated’ for one academic year 2021/2022.

This, according to the Panel means that he is to retake the 200-level courses.

But the grassroots politician has vowed to remain in focused in his political and legislative representations.