Kingsley Ohens reporting
Benin City, Edo State — The legal battle surrounding allegations made against the Vice-Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Professor (Mrs.) Eunice Omonzejie, has taken a dramatic turn, with her solicitors demanding an immediate retraction and apology from the Edo State Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Bob-Manuel Ombumhe Umoru.
In a strongly worded letter issued by S.O. Agwinede & Co., Barristers & Solicitors, the legal firm accused Umoru of making and widely circulating what it described as “false, malicious, reckless and defamatory” allegations against the Vice-Chancellor in a video published on his Facebook account on or about August 5, 2026.
The solicitors, acting on the instructions of Professor Omonzejie, stated that the allegations were calculated to portray their client as corrupt, dishonest, criminally culpable, administratively incompetent and unfit to occupy public office.
According to the letter, Umoru allegedly made a series of serious claims concerning the administration and financial management of the university, including an allegation that the Vice-Chancellor unilaterally awarded a N120 million contract for university booklets despite an alleged approval limit of N10 million.
The lawyers also accused the PDP spokesman of alleging that the contract was awarded to members of the Vice-Chancellor’s family, associates and Student Affairs staff, describing such claims as allegations of nepotism and violations of public procurement regulations.
Other allegations cited in the letter include claims that the Vice-Chancellor withheld bailout funds reportedly released by the Edo State Government for the payment of staff salaries and arrears; retained the funds without applying them for their intended purpose; and withheld NELFUND funds for more than five months, thereby allegedly frustrating students’ access to student loans.
The solicitors further said their client was accused of unilaterally stopping the university’s part-time programme and programmes operated by the Institute of Governance and Strategic Studies without the required approvals.
The letter also referenced an allegation that Professor Omonzejie changed the university’s ICT service provider and awarded a contract reportedly worth more than N500 million without the approval of the Governing Council.
Perhaps the most serious allegation highlighted by the lawyers was the claim that the Vice-Chancellor was responsible for “fraudulent withdrawals from the students’ account.”
The legal team described the allegations as grave imputations of corruption, fraud, abuse of office, diversion or conversion of public funds and official misconduct, insisting that the statements went beyond legitimate criticism or political discourse.
The lawyers maintained that their client’s reputation had been painstakingly built over years of academic, administrative and public service, arguing that the publication had exposed her to ridicule, hatred and contempt and diminished public confidence in her office.
They further took exception to the decision to make the allegations through social media, stressing that allegations of criminal conduct should be subjected to proper investigation and due process rather than trial by media.
“Trial by media remains unknown to Nigerian law and cannot be a substitute for due process,” the lawyers stated.
72-hour ultimatum
The solicitors have consequently issued Umoru a 72-hour ultimatum upon receipt of the letter to cease and desist from making, repeating or publishing further statements concerning their client which they consider defamatory.
They also demanded the removal of the allegedly offensive video, transcripts, recordings and substantially similar publications from every social media platform under his control.
In addition, the lawyers demanded a full, unequivocal and unreserved public retraction and apology, insisting that the apology should be given equal prominence on all platforms and accounts through which the alleged defamatory material was disseminated.
The letter warned that failure to comply with the demands within the stipulated period would trigger legal action without further reference to the PDP spokesman.
According to the solicitors, the contemplated suit would seek N1 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages, a perpetual injunction restraining further allegedly defamatory publications, as well as a court order compelling the publication of an apology and retraction.
The development raises the stakes in an increasingly contentious public discourse surrounding the administration of Ambrose Alli University, as allegations concerning the institution’s finances, programmes, procurement processes and governance have now moved from the arena of political criticism to the threshold of formal legal proceedings.
For now, the solicitor’s letter represents the position of Professor Omonzejie and her legal team. The allegations attributed to Umoru remain allegations unless established by competent investigative or judicial authorities, while any substantive legal proceedings that may follow will provide the appropriate forum for the competing claims to be tested.
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