has filed a suit against one Pius Nwachukwu,
47, and his wife, Chika, at a Karu Chief
Magistrates' Court for allegedly operating an
illegal university
But Mr. Nwachukwu shocked the court Friday when he
alleged that he got temporary approval to operate the
university from Prof. Julius Okojie, the executive
secretary of the NUC , after he gave him N20,000 to
fuel his car. The commission alleged that the couple founded
Temple University at Orozo, Abuja, without its
approval. The accused were arrested in October
2010
in the premises of the said university. When the matter came up for hearing on Friday, Mr.
Nwachukwu told the court that he got temporary
approval to operate a private university from Prof.
Julius Okojie.
Mr. Nwachukwu claimed that Mr. Okojie, "who is the
Director General of the National Universities Commission, gave me the approval based on the
existing relationship we had for long". He was led in
evidence by his counsel, Philip Gushit, before Chief
Magistrate Shuaibu Ahmed.
He said, "In spite of the temporary approval given to
me by Okojie, some group of armed policemen and staff of NUC invaded the school premises and
arrested
me and my wife, Chika, and took us to Karshi Police
Station. "We were detained at the station for four
days
and later charged to court, saying that we are operating an illegal university. "I have a PhD certificate in Theology from Temple
University International, my Alma Mata, and I am
the
representative of the school in Nigeria," he added. Asked how much he gave Prof Okojie to secure the
temporary licence, he said, "I gave him N20, 000 to
fuel his car as a good friend, that's all.'' Mr.
Nwachukwu said he had so far enrolled 20 students
for the distance learning degree programme and had
just three members of staff. He failed to respond to a question as to whether the
courses offered in the university were accredited by
the NUC. The magistrate adjourned the case to June
13 for adoption of written addresses.
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