IMSU Sacks Medical Student After 17 Years Of Study

The Imo State University (IMSU) has terminated the studentship of Michael Ohaji, a medical student of the university who was admitted in 2002. The dismissal of Ohaji, which followed a chain of events deemed largely as controversial, has pit the embattled student against the university’s management, particularly the current Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria A. Obasi, who Ohaji accused being complicit in the conspiracy to undermine his studentship in the university.

For Ohaji, to be thrown out of the College of Medicine of IMSU under questionable circumstances due a collection of incidents that were not entirely his fault was unjust and heart breaking. On several occasions Ohaji had reasons to petition the university’s Vice Chancellor and Senate; almost always, it took them about a full year or more to address the issues in dispute and convey their position to relevant persons and offices.

When the university authority conveyed to Ohaji that ‘his studentship at the Imo State University had elapsed by reason of efflux of time’, it was a big blow to Ohaji who felt unjustly treated. For which reason, he has resolved to seek redress in a court of law. Trouble started for Ohaji in February 2008 when he sat for his Second Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Science (MBBS) examination. He was remarked to re-sit two courses.

According to the students’ handbook, medical students were allowed a maximum of three attempts to pass the Second MBBS examination so around September 2008, he made a second attempt at the Second MBBS examination and this time he controversially failed one course. As consequence, he was remarked to repeat the year. On the advice of his Dean, Prof. Iheanyi Okoro to petition the university’s Senate over grading discrepancies, Ohaji did not repeat the year but rather petitioned the Senate of the university.