A wave of outrage has erupted at Yakubu Gowon University after the Senate granted a broad amnesty to students previously sanctioned for examination misconduct—including cheating and impersonation—prompting alumni to demand the resignation of Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Lar Patricia Manko and dissolution of the university’s Senate.
Amnesty Decision Sparks Backlash
During its 189th regular meeting on May 28, 2025, the university Senate approved the amnesty covering offenses committed between the 2020/2021 academic year and the first semester of the 2024/2025 session. The measure was presented as part of a reform-driven approach to reintegrate affected students.
Dr. Habib Yakoob, acting Director of Information and University Relations, defended the action as an inclusive and fair intervention, stating that the decision “cut across all faculties and levels,” framed within the Senate’s statutory powers. He stressed it was not politically motivated or targeted at any particular group.
Alumni Outrage: Demands & Allegations
The alumni, operating under the banner of “Concerned Alumni of University of Abuja,” slammed the development, denouncing it as “shameful” and accusing the administration of undermining merit-based integrity. Their joint press statement, signed by Barrister Mohammad Usman and Oluwaseun Akintola, demanded the Vice Chancellor step down within seven days and threatened to pursue legal action if the amnesty is not reversed.
Alumni also questioned key details: secrecy surrounding the beneficiaries, timing of the amnesty close to the end of the VC’s term, and whether there were ulterior motives tied to political influence and monetary incentives. Lecturers were alleged to have been targeted for exposing cheating by political figures. They criticized the institution’s leadership for prioritizing the amnesty over pressing issues like land disputes with the FCT minister.
Questions Raised by Alumni:
1. Who exactly benefited from the amnesty?
2. Why the secrecy and silence from federal education authorities and the NUC?
3. What are the amnesty’s precise terms—rewrites, full certification, or immediate reinstatement?
4. Is this a partial amnesty limited to select academic years?
Institutional Response and Wider Implications
University officials insist the initiative was designed to rehabilitate errant students while maintaining policy compliance. Still, many staff and academics reportedly feel demoralized, saying the decision undercuts disciplinary systems and damages the institution’s credibility.
With the allegations of political interference and selective timing, alumni maintain the action could erode the value of the university’s credentials and jeopardize confidence in future graduates.