Abia State University, Uturu, (ABSU), has described as false and mischievous reports in a national daily and some online platforms that three its academic staff died the same day following undisclosed illnesses or hunger-induced death.
In a press release signed by the Public Relations of the University, Chijioke Nwogu and made available to our Reporter in Umuahia, the Ivory Tower maintained that the deaths of the academics did not occur the same day “as mischievously reported by the media”.
According to the release, “available information from the families of the deceased revealed that they died on different days of the week in the month of September, 2021”.
Nwogu, in the release, explained that “the departed academics were reported to have been battling with health challenges for a while, which could happen to any mortal any time”.
He contended that it is uncharitable for any person to allude or insinuate any other reason for the cause of death of these academics, some of who, he disclosed, had swerved the university meritoriously and retired, to anything other than what it is ‘death’ that came when it pleased the Almighty God.
Justifying its argument that the academics died of natural causes, the university through Nwogu said, “in separate condolence massages to the bereaved families of Professor A I Nwabughogu, the former Vice Chancellor Academic, Dr D S Okoroigwe, Department of Geography and Planning, Dr Osi Okike, Political Science, the Vice Chancellor expressed shock and sadness over the unfortunate incidents and prayed God to give the families and the entire university community the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
“The administration of the Vice Chancellor, Distinguished Professor Onyemachi M Ogbulu has prioritised staff welfare, promotions and protection of lives and property of all, and will continue to do so, in spite of obvious challenges”, the PRO in the release posited; even as he tasked journalists to be cautious and endeavour to verify their stories before publication “as the university may be compelled to take legal action against fake publications”.
Uche Nwosu is a two time Shell Petroleum PLC award winner in the year 2000;
He won the Shell Award on Investigative Journalism and Environmental Cleanliness.
