Jubilations are ongoing by both staff and students of the prestigious Federal University of Technology, Owerri as nine activists involved in the February 17,2017 student protest finally graduated , recently.Recall that after the peaceful protest, the Senate of Futo on March 30,2017 handed Expulsion Letters to the student leaders involved who were SUG Executives. The affected students are OGBONNA COLLINS ROCHAS,MMEGWA KENNETH,NAOMI CHIZOBA EKEGBU,UGWU OKEY,ONUOHA ELVIS, MMADU NNAMDI,ODUNZE EBUKA INNOCENT,IHUKA VICTOR,CHIKE FRED .The causes of the demonstration ranged from hike in fees,Insecurity, Introduction of Registration of Courses etc.The Student leaders later approached an Owerri Federal High Court with Bar.Wisdom Durueke as our counsel on July 3,2017.The court under the jurisdiction of Justice Lewis Alagbo gave judgement on July3, 2018 mandating the Senate of Futo to immediately reinstate us.The Senate obeying the court order reinstated us on July28,2018.Counsel to the university Bar.F.U ONYIMADU while reacting to the judgment said students should desist in protest participation and face academic activities, which is the primary aim.
We commend especially Staff and students of Futo on the VIP treatment meted on us before graduation and our immense appreciation to dogged comrades who identified with us while the struggle lasted.
