By Esseh Ikora, Uyo
Justice Pius Idiong of Etinan High Court has fixed Monday 18th December, for ruling on a suit filed by 6,000 ex-students of Akwa Ibom State College of Agriculture, Obio Akpa against Akwa Ibom State Government over non issuance of graduation certificate 17 years after graduation.
The students are praying the court to cause the state government to issue them NYSC exemption certificates for the HND graduates of the college and OND certificates for students who completed their Ordinary certificate programme.
The students are also claiming the sum of N500,000,000,000. 00 as general damages from the defendants as well as issuing them with relevant valid certificates to enable them secure employment among others.
At the resumed sitting on Tuesday, justice Idiong who had in October 17th adjourned the matter for judgment to Tuesday 12th December, while addressing the court said the judgment is not ready. “I assure you that by Monday 18th December, 2017 the judgment will be ready. Come on Monday for the judgment, I want to deliver the judgment before Christmas “.
In the suit filed on behalf of the students, by Ada Okonkwo Esq, of Faith Chambers, Uyo the affected 6,000 ex-students of Akwa Ibom State College of Agriculture, Obio Akpa , are challenging the decision of the government of Akwa Ibom State for repealing the law establishing the college ten years after its existence without issuing them graduation certificate.
A bill for a law to repeal Akwa Ibom state College of Agriculture law, 2000 dated 10th September 2009, was enacted which eventually led to the closure of the institution that was established by law without issuing certificates to the students on completion of their OND and HND programmes.
The suit No: HU/70/2010 is between Aniefiok Akpan Essien, John Edem Ekwere and Victor Edem Anso who acted for themselves and as representatives of the 6,000 students of the College of Agriculture, Obio Akpa as plaintiffs and the Governor of Akwa ibom State and others as defendants.
The plaintiffs had declared in their endorsement of claim that they were properly admitted into the defunct College of Agriculture as lawful students of the College.
“As lawful students of the defunct college of Agriculture, we are entitled to be awarded valid certificate by the Institution at the completion of our course but ten years after the existence of the school with over 6,000 students in Ordinary National Diploma and Higher National Diploma levels, the Government repealed the law establishing the school and wasting all our years in the Institution.
The former student stated that the failure of the State Government to accredit the course of the College as accredited by the National Board for Technical Education amounted to gross misconduct on the part of the Government.
