The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has demanded an immediate investigation into Coal City University, Enugu, following allegations that university officials brutally assaulted a student and subsequently suspended her, along with two whistleblowers.
In a press statement released on Tuesday, RULAAC Executive Director Okechukwu Nwanguma expressed “grave concern and outrage” over video evidence circulating online.
The footage reportedly shows the torture and degrading treatment of Miss Divine, a 300-level Physiotherapy student.
Instead of penalising the perpetrators, the university management allegedly slapped the victim with a one-year suspension. Furthermore, two other female students were handed six-month suspensions for recording the incident.
“Such actions send a dangerous message that victims and whistleblowers will be punished while perpetrators are protected,” Nwanguma said, noting that no institution has the authority to subject students to cruel punishment.
The rights group stated that the assault directly violates Section 34(1) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees the dignity of the human person.
The advocacy group also brought to light severe institutional deficiencies at the private university.
According to the statement, students in the Physiotherapy Department are being deprived of adequate education despite paying hefty tuition fees.
Reports indicate that due to prolonged unpaid salaries, lecturers have abandoned their posts, leaving only one lecturer to teach multiple courses throughout the semester.
Additionally, the university stands accused of extortion, allegedly forcing students to pay for unavailable transportation services and clinical postings that were never provided.
The rights group has formally called upon the Honourable Minister of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to take swift regulatory action.
RULAAC is urging authorities to launch an independent probe into the physical assault and ensure criminal prosecution for the university officials involved.
They are also demanding the immediate reversal of the “punitive and retaliatory” suspensions levelled against both the victim and the two students who preserved the video evidence.
Furthermore, Nwanguma is calling for a full academic and financial audit of the institution. This includes investigating the claims of unpaid staff and lecturer shortages, which pose a potential breach of NUC accreditation requirements, as well as addressing the fees collected for non-existent services like transportation and clinical postings to ensure students receive appropriate financial redress.
Finally, the group wants an investigation into reports of parents and students being threatened by management, alongside a general strengthening of oversight mechanisms to protect students from exploitation across all private universities.
“Educational institutions exist to nurture learning, character, and human development,” Nwanguma emphasised. “They must not become environments where students are subjected to violence, intimidation, or reprisals for exposing wrongdoing.”
At the time of this report, the management of Coal City University has not issued an official response to the allegations or RULAAC’s demands. #Securitynewsalert.com
