₦airaland Forum

University Of Nigeria Graduate Threatens N100million Lawsuit After School Used Matric Number To Mobilise Another Student For Youth Service

A graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ogunbamowo Damilola, is set to sue the institution after discovering that her matriculation number was used to mobilise another student of the institution for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme.

In a petition obtained by SaharaReporters, the student, a graduate of the department of Mathematics Education from the institution's affiliate, Yaba College of Technology Satellite Campus, completed her course work in December 2018.

However, while her colleagues were mobilised for NYSC in 2019, she was not accorded similar treatment in spite of having no carry-overs at the time.

The petition initiated by the Yakubu Eleto chambers further stated that when she demanded to be sent for NYSC, the school authorities informed her that her Matric No; F/BS/14/3880001 was used by someone else for NYSC.

The chambers had since requested that the institution to immediately deploy its client for NYSC.

In the petition, the graduate also demanded the sum of N100million as damages, citing the negligent transfer of her Matric number to a third party to use for NYSC.

The petition signed by Yusuf Malik Bello, the Assistant Head of Chambers, was addressed to the registrar of the institution with the title, “A Demand For Immediate Mobilisation For National Youth Service Corp Of Ogunbamowo Damilola Abigail, A 2018 Graduate of Mathematics Education.”

It reads, “The above subject matter refers. We are the solicitors to Ogunbamowo Damilola Abigail, a 2017/2018 graduate of Mathematics Education with Matric No: F/BS/14/3880001 (hereinafter referred to as “our clients”) and on whose instructions we hereby write this letter of demand.

“Our clients briefed us as follows; That she was offered admission on a full-time basis as could be deduced from her admission letter into Mathematics Education with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Yabatech Satellite Campus. The said course of study was completed in December 2018.

”It is our brief that our client successfully completed her course of study in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Yabatech Satellite Campus in flying colours and her name was cleared as not having any outstanding (Carryovers).

“It is our further brief that our client’s co-graduates of the same Academic Session from other Departments and the domicile department of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Yabatech Satellite Campus were mobilized in 2019 for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) without according our client similar treatment.

“It is also our brief that when our client demanded to be sent to NYSC, the school authority rather came up with strange news by saying that our clients Matric No; F/BS/14/3880001 was used by someone else for NYSC.

“Regrettably, this development has left our client in a state of frustration, stagnation and dilemma, as she cannot gain employment in Nigeria without her NYSC discharge or exemption certificates (of which you are aware), after spending huge sums of money and wasting the vital years of her youthful life pursuing a career of her choice.

“TAKE NOTICE therefore that we have our client’s authority to demand and we hereby demand that you send our client to NYSC without further delay because she was offered admission on a full-time basis deserving of NYSC and on the representation that her Matric No; F/BS/14/3880001 can’t be shared with anyone which is the standard all over the world, we are now emphatically demanding the sum of N100,000,000.00 (Hundred Million Naira) as damages suffered by our client by negligently transferring her Matric No: to a third party to use for NYSC.

“This is an act deliberately orchestrated to frustrate our client’s four years of devoted study in YABATECH, the trauma of wasted years and fraud perpetuated on her. TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that should you fail and/or neglect to heed our demand within Seven (7) days of the receipt of this letter, we shall have no other option than to perfect our client's further instruction. Be properly guided.”

When SaharaReporters contacted the Dean of School of Technical Education, Yaba College of Technology, Olusola Akeredolu, he stated that the issue had nothing to do with the college but the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the NYSC.

According to him, the college does not have the authority to communicate with the NYSC.

He said, “The issue is that somebody used her Matriculation number which is not in our jurisdiction. That person used it and NYSC was able to pick that person which is outside our own jurisdiction, we have been trying to follow it up to see if we can get the person.”

When SaharaReporters asked him if it was possible for a student to make use of another's matriculation number without the institution's consent, he replied, “It is outside the school's jurisdiction, when you're with NYSC, the college does not even have any affairs with that, once your result has been passed from here, we send it to Nsukka which is the Affiliate parent so they're the ones that will put it to NYSC so we don't have any jurisdiction. All we just try to do is monitor if our students are doing well.

“When matric numbers are used, it is within NYSC and them (UNN), they should be able to check that one. We are just trying to see that our students should not miss the NYSC, we are doing everything possible to see what can be done to rectify the issue so she can go for NYSC.”

On whether the student who used the matric number had bribed a member of staff, the Dean stated: “Go to NYSC, we are an affiliate body of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. When we compile results, Nsukka comes here to pick results and takes it over there and they're the ones who would relate with NYSC. Once the result has been approved by the senate of UNN, they send it to the NYSC.

“We have nothing to do with their mobilisation. But I know we have been working to make sure that we find a way by which she must go for NYSC as soon as possible.”

Also, the Faculty Officer of the Science Education faculty of the college, Odundayo Kolawole, said the lawyer of the student could take a further step.

“If there is any case of such, I think the best thing for the person to do is to write a letter to the management. If the faculty has gotten a letter from her lawyer, why is she going to the press? The lawyer should do the needful.

“If her lawyer has written to management, I think management will definitely give a response. There's no need making a mountain out of nothing. If the lawyer had written to management, definitely the management will reply, I don't think there is need escalating issues unnecessarily,” the officer said.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE, BDCs AND CBN GOVERNOR'S POLICY SOMERSAULT

By Dr. Adeola Adeyemi

It is quite pathetic and worrisome the recent foreign currency policy somersault of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the leadership of its Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele. The policy which is that CBN will stop giving BDCs foreign currency is capable of completely destroying many businesses and households. This anti-economic cum financial policy is coming amidst obvious economic challenges occasioned by poor financial policies of CBN, economic recession and COVID-19 pandemic.

It would be recalled that the country slipped into economic recession few months after Emefiele assumed office as CBN Governor in 2014. Since then till date, Emefiele has shown that he lacks the knowledge and experience to turn around the country's economy and finances for good.

One can say without mincing words that for Emefiele, being the CBN governor is all about making policies about foreign exchange that will be of personal benefit to the banks and his paymasters in foreign exchange related businesses to the detriment of the economy and the rest of Nigerians, especially the middle class and downtrodden.

This is not surprising considering that Mr Emefiele was appointed into CBN from Zenith bank. So, it is a case of him protecting his personal interest and that of his allies in the banking sector without minding the adverse multiplier effect on the citizens and economy at large. Zenith bank which has phobia and hatred for anything Bureau De Change became so strong and comfortable with Emefiele's elevation. Zenith bank as early as the inception of Bureau De Change never agreed to open a corporate account for BDCs. It doesn't also issue instruments in favour of BDCs. This is the prejudice and bias Mr Emefiele took to the CBN. Upon assumption of office as CBN governor he made nonsense of domiciliary account by putting in place policies that took Nigerians backwards.

Domiciliary account holders would travel abroad with their foreign exchange debit cards only to find out that they could only access maximum of $300 in a day. The cost of hotel accommodation, feeding and others is none of Emefiele's concern or worry. A lot of micro, small and medium business enterprises that hitherto put money together and import a forty feet container have been put out of business as a result of deliberate policies of banks supported by CBN to frustrate them and their businesses.

This is in an environment that unemployment is fuelling all sorts of problems and increasing crime rate.

The CBN before now has been hitting the BDCs below the belt. The apex bank would just pick some BDCs at random and sanction them and make them pay #5m each for an offence only known to the CBN. The latest allegation against the BDCs is that they are laundering money. What is the volume of foreign exchange given to the BDCs as a percentage of the whole. It is very insignificant and infinitesimal amount.

Assuming without conceding that some BDCs launder money, is that enough reason for CBN to put the entire people in the sector of the economy out of business without weighing the grave consequences? Is there no way CBN can curb such illicit activity if any exist? A Bureau De Change employs at least four persons. Each person has at least four dependants. It is clear that to the CBN governor, there is nothing wrong in throwing away the baby with the bath water.

It would be recalled that Prof. Charles Soludo was at a time the governor of CBN and the economy thrived. Please can someone advice Mr. Emefiele to search his office filing cabinet for some memos by Prof Solude, especially those that relate to foreign exchange policies . No doubt, Mr Emefiele will learn some lessons.

Today the exchange rate of dollar to naira is #515 as against the #503 few days ago that the BDCs were in operation. So even out of business BDCs are still making the exchange rate to go up?

Haba, Emefiele and his team should wake up from slumber and hallucination and proffer lasting solution to the financial cum economic woes of the country. BDCs are not the causes of rising inflation and dwindling economy. They should not be used as sacrificial lamb by Emefiele and CBN. BDCs have been supportive of the CBN policies and country's economy. They have provided succour and assistance to the people when it mattered most. They are genuine and legal business entities like every other one in the country.

Shutting the door behind them means adding more woes to the country's dwindling economy. It is time the leadership of the country call Emefiele to order because he is completely destroying the fragile and struggling economy of the country which he had failed to fix since emerging as CBN Governor. Silence is not golden at this point. It is not only about the BDCs, it is about Nigerians and survival of their economy.

Adeyemi, an economic analyst writes from Broad street Lagos.