The Vice Chancellor of Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU), Bauchi, Professor Fatima Tahir, has denied claims that she plotted the arrest of one Mr Shehu Ahmed Buwayi using the Department of State Services (DSS) over a published article criticising the VC for poor running of the institution.
Mr Buwayi, in an article titled “Sabotage to Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad’s Mission to Rescue Sa’adu Zungur University Gadau from Maladministration: Those Behind,” alleged that corruption, poor infrastructure and maladministration at the university, raising issues of public interest.
Meanwhile, Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) raised an alarm that the Voice Chancellor engaged DSS to tract and arrest Mr Buwayi over the article. CITAD further argued that such moves by the VC constitute deliberate attempt to deny citizens universal freedom to express their view over issues and happenings in the society guaranteed in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In her reaction, the Vice Chancellor in a statement signed by Spokesperson of the University, Auwal Hassan and made available to reporters in Bauchi on Thursday described the report as “false, malicious, and misleading.”
Professor Tahir debunked any link with Mr. Buwayi, insisting that he is neither a current nor former student of the institution. “This is a verifiable fact,” she said. “And his claims of student persecution are a deliberate distortion aimed at discrediting the university’s leadership.”
She expressed firm commitment to upholding democratic values, including the right to freedom of expression as enshrined in Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution. However, it warned that this right does not extend to defamation or incitement.
The VC, citing Section 373 of the Nigerian Criminal Code, cautioned against publications that could damage reputations or incite hatred, saying such actions are criminally punishable.
She called on Buwayi to retract his statements and demanded that the CITAD, which was referenced in the report, verify facts before lending credibility to public allegations.
