Alarmed by the frequency of meetings being held by the Governing Council of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike ( MOUAU) and the attendant cost implications, concerned parents of the institution have demanded information on the expenditure profile of the Council Chairman, Comrade Fidelis Edeh.
Specifically, they want the management to disclose how much the institution has spent on Edeh since his assumption of office and how much was spent on the Special Council Meeting convoked by the Chairman between November 13th and 15th and other meetings adjudged illegal outside the ordinary and emergency council meetings.
The parents under the aegis of Aggrieved and Concerned Parents of Students of MOUAU led by the Chairman, Hon Obinna Nwankwo averred that the special Council meetings convoked by Edeh were avenues to siphon public funds.
While demanding to know the specific items deliberated during those meetings to justify their being held and the expenditure incurred, the aggrieved parents expressed reservation over the legality of the meetings.
Demanding full disclosure in pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, the parents through their counsel U E Ndukwe Esq, gave the university seven days to respond to the inquiries in writing.
They averred that under the extant regulations governing universities, the law recognises only Regular Council meeting and Emergency Council meeting while the Special council meeting is alien to it.
” The purported ” Special Council Meeting ” of 13th, 14th and 15th November 2025,respectively orchestrated by Comrade Fidelis Edeh as Chairman , Governing Council, MOUAU is illegal, unconstitutional, illegitimate, tyrannical, despotic and most importantly and wasteful without arriving at any meaningful resolution in the interest of the institution ‘, they submitted.
They therefore demanded answers to the foregoing for the public to evaluate the validity and urgency of the Special Council Meeting convened by Comrade Fidelis Edeh as the council chairman.
“In the light of the foregoing, therefore, our Client pursuant to the Freedom of Information Law (FOI), Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), hereby solemnly REQUEST for the following WITHIN 7 DAYS:
a) Resolutions reached at the so-called “Special Council Meeting” held on 13th, 14th and 15th November, 2025, respectively.
b) Total sum of money spent by the University in funding the “Special Council Meetings” held in the University on 13th, 14th and 15th November, 2025, respectively.
c) All monies released to the Chairman of Council, Comrade Fidelis Edeh for the “Special Council Meetings” of 13th, 14th and 15th November, 2025, with various budgeting headings and codes for such allocations, releases and expenditures.
d) Circular(s) and Memo(s) with Originating Approval which necessitated such allocations, releases or expenditures to the Governing Council Chairman, Comrade Fidelis Edeh.
e) All monies released to the Governing Council Chairman, Comrade Fidelis Edeh since his assumption of office in 2024.
Speaking to newsmen after the submission of the letter, Chairman of the Aggrieved and Concerned parents, Hon Obinna Nwankwo, condemned the manner Comrade Fidelis Edeh is running MOUAU like his private estate.
According to him, Edeh has not only instigated division in the school but used his office to intimidate and victimise his perceived enemies.
“He runs the university against every known law guiding a public university. He runs it like a private entity . He schedules meetings outside existing extant regulations with the sole intention of approving items that favour him.
What is the meaning of the special council meeting? The university law recognised only Regular and emergency meetings “, Nwankwo argued.
According to him ” just like a sole administrator, he promotes those he wishes to promote and delays or denies the promotion of those he doesn’t like or those opposed to his tyrannical style. Let’s just wait till we hear from the management “
