The Management of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), has alleged that the school bursar, Mr. Peter Agi, been impersonating the Vice Chancellor, Prof Zana Akpagu as well as indulging in the act of absenteeism, and so he should be suspended.
Last week, it was reported that some UNICAL administrative workers, students and suspected thugs clashed on campus, while staging simultaneous protests in support and against the Vice Chancellor (VC), Professor Zana Akpagu and the institution’s bursar, Mr. Peter Agi, who were believed to be at loggerhead over the control of the school’s finances.
But, reacting on the development, the bursar, Mr. Peter Agi, dismissed his alleged suspension, saying the VC, as a principal officer like himself, lacked the power to suspend him from office.
Justifying the institution’s position via a press statement signed by UNICAL’s registrar on Tuesday in Calabar, Mr. Moses Abang, the management observed with dismay how the bursar had been impersonating the VC on the CBN e-payment platform, by making final approvals and payments; an exclusive task of the Vice Chancellor.
The statement, which was copied to the chairman of the University governing council, Chief Emmanuel Iwanyanwu among other principal officers, also accused the bursar of absenteeism.
“Furthermore, Management observed that you have been impersonating the Vice Chancellor on the CBN e-payment platform by making final approvals and payments, a duty that is the responsibility of the Vice Chancellor who is the Chief Accounting Officer of the University. Bank transactions and alerts are still being forwarded to the immediate past Vice Chancellor, Prof. James Epoke, without the Vice Chancellor’s knowledge.
“Again, you absented yourself from office without requesting any of your Deputies to act for you, thus creating a vacuum in the administration of the Bursary. Rather, in a circular of 18th August, 2016, you requested members of the University community who need you for official business to do so by reaching you on your phone number, 08037316725. This is absurd and not acceptable anywhere”, the statement read in part.
However, while addressing newsmen on the matter Tuesday in Calabar, the University bursar, Mr. Peter Agi, urged the VC to act according to the rule, saying only the University governing council has the power to punish him if he was at fault and not him.
He expressed surprise over the latest development, even when the University authority was yet to query or summon him before any panel.
The bursar said: “I do not know anything about it. Nobody has communicated to me about suspension. In any case, the Vice Chancellor has no power to suspend me; a principal officer of the University like himself. It is only the University governing council that has such power if they find me guilty of any offence. The suspension saga is all speculation.
“Nobody has issued me with a query or summoned me before any panel to hear from me even though I have been on care unit of a hospital which they and the police are aware of. This ought to be the proper thing according to personnel rule.”