STAKEHOLDERS in Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, have urged the Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo to use the occasion of his one year anniversary in office to renew his commitment in the fight against corruption in the state.
Speaking to _Standard Daily Press_ correspondent in Ekpoma, some of the stakeholders interviewed commended the Governor in his renewed efforts to awaken the state owned University that has been in comatose during the satanic reign of Governor Godwin Obaseki by increasing the monthly subvention of the university from a paltry 40 million naira(forty million naira) to 500 million naira (five hundred million naira).
While praising the Governor for his remarkable achievements in the past one year in office, they employed him to beam his search light on the university and bring to book those indicted in embezzling the university’s money while they served in various capacity.
They specifically mentioned the case of one Dr Austin Thomas Aghemelo, of the Department of Political Science, who was indicted by the university for stealing over fifty million naira of university fund as the then Chairman of the university committee on revenue generation at the same time, accused of several sexual harassment leading to his sack by the defunct Special Intervention Team(SIT) of the university.
Though reinstated by the present Governor, Dr Austin Thomas Aghemelo was immediately promoted into the professorial cadre during the administration of Prof. Olowo Samuel.
“Promoting a staff who was dismissed by the university for stealing over fifty million naira of university fund and engaging in sexual harassment and extortion of students leading to his sack has called to question the agenda of Governor Monday Okpebholo”, the source told our correspondent.
According to a source who pleaded anonymity, “Prof. Austin Thomas Aghemelo is still bragging and boasting within the university community that as long as the Governor is his younger brother and coming from the same clan and local government area, he is as free as air.”
Stakeholders are urging the Governor to do the needful by, atleast, recovering the stolen money from him in order not to lay a bad precedent in the university.
They made reference to one Prof. Patrick Uhumuavbi, a lecturer in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, who was indicted for stealing university money amounting to two million naira as Chairman of the university committee on revenue generation during the administration of Prof. Aigbomian.
As a punitive measure, Prof. Patrick Uhumuavbi was not only demoted to the rank of a senior lecturer, but was also made to refund the stolen money.
According to our source, “Prof Austin Thomas Aghemelo should be made to refund the stolen money now, because the Pharoah that doesnt know him may arise tomorrow”.
They see this task as a litmus test on Governor Monday Okpebholo’s resolve to combating corruption head on in Edo State no matter whose ox is gored.