David Umahi Varsity’s Council sets record straight on ‘hijack’ allegation

Amid growing scrutiny fueled by online reports, members of the Governing Council of the David Umahi Federal University of Science (DUFUHS) have strongly dismissed allegations that the institution has been hijacked or is being run as a personal enterprise.

At a meeting held within the university premises in Ebonyi State, Wednesday, members of the governing council addressed what they described as misleading and malicious claims circulating in an online media outlet. The report had alleged that David Umahi, former governor of Ebonyi State and minister of Works, had taken over the running of the university, sidelining the governing council.

But in a coordinated response, council members painted a very different picture one of cohesion, autonomy, and institutional stability.

Adebayo Shittu, pro-chancellor and chairman of the Governing Council, is at the forefront of the response. He described the allegations as not only false but also an attempt to undermine the credibility of one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing federal universities.

Shittu recounted how he first became aware of the claims through an unexpected phone call from a journalist based in the United States, who sought confirmation of the alleged sidelining.

“I was surprised when I got the call suggesting that I had been sidelined. I made it clear that I have no complaint against anybody, and nobody could sideline me,” he said.

Drawing on his decades-long political career, Shittu insisted that such claims were implausible, noting that his experience spanning over 47 years in public life makes him neither vulnerable to manipulation nor exclusion.

Beyond personal rebuttal, he framed the allegations as part of a broader effort to destabilise the institution.

“Any negative information you hear is a hatchet job by frustrated individuals whose intentions are not noble. We are working in unity, and everything is going on well,” he added.

The council chairman emphasised that DUFUHS remains committed to its national mandate as a federal institution, welcoming students from across Nigeria and focusing on delivering quality education in health sciences.

Echoing this position, council member Saliu Aluko dismissed the report as “malicious, slanderous, and unreasonable,” stressing that members of the council are independent-minded individuals who fully understand their responsibilities.

“We are seasoned politicians. We know our rights and duties. Our meetings are rigorous we cross all the T’s and dot all the I’s. Nobody is controlling us,” he stated.

Aluko further clarified that the council operates without interference from external actors, including the minister at the centre of the allegations, insisting that the claims of a takeover are entirely unfounded.

Also lending his voice, a representative of the Federal Ministry of Education, Paul Okpe, described the report as baseless, reinforcing the position that the university’s governance structure remains intact.

Jessie Uneke, vice chancellor of the university, on his part, pointed to ongoing infrastructural developments as clear evidence of effective oversight by the governing council.

“If you look at the infrastructures here, you will see that the council is supervising these projects very well. The stability we enjoy academically and administratively reflects that the system is working,” he said.

As the debate continues in public discourse, DUFUHS authorities insist that the institution remains focused on its core mandate, undistracted by what they describe as unfounded narratives.