By Danlami Nmodu
The request for details of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Ph.D records from the University of Port Harcourt has been rejected by the institution.
Acting under the powers of the Freedom of Information Act,FOIA , Nsirimovu Courage, Esq of the Access to Information Officer of The Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law had requested for the details on behalf of a Nigerian citizen , Omano Edigheji,PhD.
But the University which earlier acknowledged receiving the request has finally refused to release the details.
The letter declining to disclose information was dated 26th February 2015. It reads in part:”The Management of the University has carefully considered your request vis-a-vis the FOI Act.It is my instructions to inform you that your request does not come within the relevant provisions of the FOI Act for its applicability or for the University to provide such details as requested.Details of of the Ph.D Degree of President Goodluck Jonathan in the University of Port Harcourt cannot therefore be made available to you”.It was signed by Eric Loveday Osuo Abonemi,University, Legal officer
Acknowledging the request earlier, the legal officer of UNIPORT as university is fondly called said in a letter dated 13th February,2015: “I wish to refer to your application to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt on the above subject. It is my instructions to inform you that the Management of the University is considering your request and will forward a response to you in due course accordingly
“Thank you and with the assurances of Vice Chancellor’s regards and best wishes.
But a furious activist slammed the university with the following questions : What is UniPort hiding? Why is his PhD thesis not at the University library? Why has the thesis not been cited by any academic or student? These are all questions that need answers”
