Controversy Rocks UniAbuja: Professors Reject Roseline Adakayi as Acting Registrar

Controversy Rocks UniAbuja: Professors Reject Roseline Adakayi as Acting Registrar

A group of senior academics has petitioned the Minister of Education, condemning what they described as the “illegal and provocative” appointment of Mrs. Roseline Adakayi as Acting Registrar of the University of Abuja.

The petition, dated May 13, 2025, alleges that the appointment—announced via a circular issued on May 12, 2025—was unilaterally approved by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Olanrewaju Tejuoso, without the due process required by law.

Led by Prof. Gambo Dan’Asabe and co-signed by other academics including Prof. Murtadha Oluyemi Badmus, Dr. Yunus Momoh, Dr. Mansur Kani, and Dr. Binta Lawal Dabai, the petition described the appointment as “legally untenable, procedurally flawed, constitutionally defective, institutionally insensitive, and administratively provocative.”

Breach of Law and Due Process

The petitioners argued that the University of Abuja Act does not empower the Pro-Chancellor to appoint an Acting Registrar without a duly constituted Governing Council. They noted that the Council was dissolved on February 6, 2025, rendering Dr. Tejuoso’s action null and void.

“This constitutes an unlawful usurpation of the Council’s powers and must be immediately invalidated,” the letter stated, urging the Minister to restrain Dr. Tejuoso from further actions “purporting to emanate from a non-existent Council.”

Allegations of Bias and Federal Character Violation

The academics also faulted Mrs. Adakayi’s appointment on merit-based and ethical grounds. They alleged that she is neither the most senior nor the most qualified Deputy Registrar, lacking the credentials and experience to justify her selection.

In addition, the petition raised concerns over what it termed a “disturbing sectarian and faith-based imbalance” in the university’s leadership composition. The current principal officers, according to the petitioners, reflect “religious homogeneity,” marginalizing the Muslim community and eroding the institution’s federal character.

The letter also pointed out that both Mrs. Adakayi and Mrs. Sheeva-Ray, the university’s Bursar, are from Benue State—an alleged violation of the Federal Character principle enshrined in Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.

Calls for Immediate Reversal

In their concluding demands, the petitioners urged the Minister to:

Reverse Mrs. Adakayi’s appointment;

Rescind all actions taken in violation of due process;

Issue firm directives against further illegal appointments by unauthorized persons.

Copies of the petition were also sent to the National Security Adviser, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, the leadership of the Senate and House Committees on Education, and the Sultan of Sokoto.

As of press time, neither the Ministry of Education nor the University of Abuja had issued an official response to the petition.

By PRNigeria