The Presiding Judge of the National Industrial Court, Hon. Justice Sanusi Kado, has annulled the suspension of Professor Augustine Angbe from his position as Vice Chancellor of the University of Cross River State. The court ruled that the University’s Governing Council has no legal authority to suspend the Vice Chancellor under the provisions of the University’s law.
Justice Kado ordered that Professor Angbe be immediately reinstated to his position as Vice Chancellor, as the law does not grant the Governing Council the power to exercise disciplinary action over him.
The case stems from a dispute that began in May 2024, when the chairman of the University’s Governing Council announced Professor Angbe’s suspension, despite no formal query or charges of misconduct. Although he had been invited to address certain allegations in a forensic audit report, Angbe refuted the claims as baseless.
In defense, the University and its Governing Council filed a preliminary objection, arguing the case should be dismissed for procedural reasons, claiming Professor Angbe had violated court rules. They also argued that the matter could not be resolved through an originating summons due to its criminal implications.
Meanwhile, the Attorney-General of Cross River State sought to have its name removed from the suit, asserting that it had no involvement in the matter. The University’s counsel further argued that the suspension was necessary for an investigation into salary disbursements from 2020 to 2023.
However, Justice Kado dismissed the objections, ruling them based on procedural errors rather than legal statutes. He clarified that the Governing Council did not have the power to suspend the Vice Chancellor. The law grants such authority solely to the Visitor of the university—who in this case is the Governor of Cross River State—who has the exclusive right to appoint and potentially remove the Vice Chancellor.
The court concluded that the disciplinary power of the Governing Council did not extend to the Vice Chancellor, and awarded Professor Angbe N1 million in costs.
Justice Kado’s ruling emphasizes that the University’s Governing Council overstepped its legal bounds by attempting to suspend the Vice Chancellor and has ordered the immediate reinstatement of Professor Angbe to his office.
