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A group committed to the unity of diverse ethnic nationalities in Akwa Ibo State, Akwa Ibom Unity Forum, has tendered an unreserved apology to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Professor Nyaudo Ndaeyo, who it accused of a cover-up in the alleged certificate forgery involving the incumbent governor of the state, Umo Eno, a former student of the institution.
It also retracted its petition addressed to the National University Commission dated May 10, 2023.
Addressing a press conference in Uyo, the state capital on Tuesday, the Director-General of the Forum, Uko Idiong, said the apology became necessary after a “thorough review of the facts” which revealed that its earlier petitions were not only unfounded but also completely false.
The group had petitioned the NUC, accusing the VC of a grand cover-up in the case of the governor.
Idiong, who was flanked at the briefing by the Secretary General of the Forum, Aniedi Iwok and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Charles Ndanyongmong, said that the forum regrets the stress and the embarrassment such wrong accusation may have caused to the person of the VC, the university itself and all the stakeholders
Idiong said, “On May 10, 2023, our organization submitted a petition to the National Universities Commission titled ‘Petition Against a Grand Cover-Up’ by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, on a Case of Forgery and Manipulation of Academic Records.’
“We claimed in the petition that the Vice Chancellor was engaged in a deliberate cover-up to obliterate official records.
“However, after a thorough review of the facts, we have come to realize that the claims made in our petition were not only unfounded but also completely false.”
He added, “We deeply regret the distress, embarrassment, and damage caused to the reputation, integrity, and character of Professor Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo.
“We equally acknowledge the harm caused to the University of Uyo as an institution, as well as the pain and disruption this baseless petition has caused to its community.
“We categorically retract the petition dated May 10, 2023, in its entirety. The allegations it contained were based on misinformation, which we mistakenly believed to be credible at the time.
“We extend our unreserved apologies to the NUC for being drawn into this matter based on false information.
“Our apologies also go to other stakeholders and agencies who may have been misled by the allegations, including the Federal Ministry of Education, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, and the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities.”
Noting that the group had taken full responsibility for the distress caused by its actions, Idiong stated that the organization had learned a vital lesson from the unfortunate episode, promising that going forward; he would ensure that all information disseminated or petitions submitted would be thoroughly verified and based on irrefutable evidence.
