CSO sue University of Agriculture over illegal bursar appointment

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

A civil society organisation, Save Nigeria Movement, has dragged the Governing Council of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, to court over illegal bursar appointment.
The Plaintiff in a suit filed by its Counsel, Barr T Sorkaa, who described the appointment as illegal, is asking the court to stop Mr Ortese Tyoule Simon, from assuming the vacant position of bursar in the institution.
The group, had in the court processes with suit number FHC/MKD/CS/28/2023 said Simon was not qualified for the appointment.
He prayed the court for an order restraining the defendants in the matter from allowing Simon, who is the 6th defendants in the matter from assuming office.
Apart from the Governing Council and Simon, other defendants in the matter are the minister of education, minister of agriculture,
Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, and the registrar and secretary, governing Council, Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi
In the suit, the Plaintiff prayed for the following orders: an order of Interlocutory Injunction of this Honourable Court restraining the 1st to 5th Defendants, Respondents (minister of education, minister of agriculture,
Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, and the registrar and secretary, governing Council, Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi)
from allowing the 6th Defendant/Respondent, (Simon) a Deputy Director, Audit Unit, to assume as Bursar, Joseph University, Makurdi in contradiction of the Financial Regulations, No. 1709 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2009.
SNM also prayed the court to determine Whether or not upon a dispassionate and compound construction of the Federal Universities of Agriculture Act, Cap. F22, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, Federat Universities of Agriculture (Amendment) Act, 2019, Financial Regulations, No. 1709 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2009 and other relevant Statutes, the requirements for appointment into the vacant position of Bursar, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi which was at least five (5) years experience as a Deputy Bursar was followed by the Selection Board for the appointment by the Governing Council, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi of the 6” Defendant, a Deputy Director, Audit Unit, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi into the vacant position of Bursar, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi.
In the suit, the plaintiff also.prayed the court for the following reliefs: A declaration that the 6th Defendant, a Deputy Director, Audit Unit, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi was not qualified for appointment by the Governing Council, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi into the vacant position of Bursar, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi. A DECLARATION that the Selection Board did not follow the requirements of at least five (5) years experience as a Deputy Bursar in its recommendations to the Governing Council, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, the appointment of the 6th Defendant into the vacant position of Bursar, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi.
A declaration that the appointment by the Governing Council, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi of 6th Defendant, a Deputy Director, Audit Unit, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi into the vacant position of Bursar, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi contradicted 2004, Federal Universities of Agnculture (Amendment) Act, 2019, Finanoal Reguiabons, No. 1709 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2009 and other relevant Statutes by this Honourable Court as to the appointment and Qualification of the 6” Defendant into the vacant positon of Bursar, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi,
The group said only the declarations and orders of this Honourable Court can resolve the issue of the requirements or qualifications for the appointment of the 6” Defendant into the vacant position of Bursar, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi.