...Calls It a Cheap Blackmail Aimed at Undermining Her Administrative Excellence:
The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Enugu State, has expressed deep disappointment over a recent New Telegraph report that misrepresented the visit of the National Senate President of NANS to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). The visit, intended to honor the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Chigbu Polycarp, with a meritorious award, was marred by baseless and misguided attacks on the respected Registrar, Dr. (Mrs.) Celine Nnebedum. In a statement signed by Comrade Cajetan Ali on the 31st of January 2025, the Enugu State leadership of NANS moved swiftly to set the record straight, denouncing the falsehoods and defending Dr. Nnebedum’s unwavering commitment to integrity and due process.
Official statement read;
"We have read with utter disappointment a circulating New Telegraph report of the recent visit of the National Senate President of NANS to UNN as was reported by those who seek to utilize the sincere visit of the SP to achieve other ulterior motives. It was marred by series of unwarranted and misinformed attacks on the person of the esteemed Registrar, Dr. (Mrs.) Celine Nnebedum. We are aware that the National Senate president of NANS had visited UNN to present a meritorious award to the acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Chigbu Polycarp. However, as a state leadership that is solidly on ground in the campuses, we make bold to state that the vile remarks made against the Registrar in the media report sent to New Telegraph and credited to the Senate President were not borne out of any factual assessment of her actions but rather from a carefully orchestrated snare of deceit spun by mischievous individuals who sought to use the visit of the Senate President to further their agenda. While We are not unaware of the fact that the Registrar's uncommon commitment to due process and institutional integrity has earned her both friends and foes, we strongly believe that NANS should not be used as a tool to discourage such good virtues.
The Enugu State leadership of NANS in a bid to set the records straight has immediately engaged with the Senate President, who now realizes the extent of this deception.
Dr. (Mrs.) Celine Nnebedum is one of the most seasoned, principled, and dedicated administrators in UNN currently. Her unwavering commitment to the core values of integrity, transparency, and adherence to due process has earned her the respect of right-thinking members of the university community. Unfortunately, these same virtues have also made her a target for those who prefer a system riddled with impunity and disregard for established procedures.
Contrary to the claims made against her, the UNN Governing Council has never found fault with her actions, let alone set up an investigative panel to probe her. This claim, like many others, is nothing but a fabricated tale designed to mislead the public and smear her image.
Let us briefly shed light on some of the allegations peddled in the report.
ALLEGED ADMINISTRATIVE SABOTAGE AND UNETHICAL CONDUCT
There is no record of any formal petition or official complaint from the UNN Governing Council, the Federal Ministry of Education, or any statutory body accusing the Registrar of administrative sabotage.
The suggestion that she deliberately delayed fumigation processes within the hostels is baseless. The fumigation process, like any other procurement-driven exercise, follows due process. Any delays were procedural and not due to any form of sabotage.
ALLEGATIONS OF DELAYED UNIVERSITY PROJECT
The claim that the Registrar intentionally obstructed the execution of digitization projects is also a deliberate falsehood. As a stickler to due process, she ensured that all contracts met the required administrative and financial regulations. If there were delays, they were due to standard bureaucratic processes that ensure transparency—not personal vendettas or sabotage.
CLAIMS OF FINANCIAL INDUCEMENT AND EXPLOITATION
The idea that the Registrar sought illicit financial inducements is a laughable distortion of reality. There is no documented proof of such claims, and no legitimate investigation has ever substantiated such an accusation.
The supposed imposition of unjust financial penalties on students was also a fabrication. University financial policies are never unilaterally implemented by the Registrar but follow established institutional frameworks.
ALLEGED UNDERMINING OF THE ACTING VICE CHANCELLOR
The claim that the Registrar reversed staff postings in defiance of the Acting Vice-Chancellor is yet another falsehood. The role of the Registrar includes ensuring administrative order, and any postings or reassignments must align with established university regulations.
The most important question remains:
Who benefits from this elaborate campaign of misinformation? The answer is simple—those who see Dr. (Mrs.) Celine Nnebedum’s commitment to integrity as an obstacle to their selfish ambitions. The individuals responsible for misinforming the Senate President did so because they seek to create administrative instability, weaken institutional checks and balances, and exploit the university’s resources unchecked.
The Enugu State leadership of NANS has taken it upon itself to ensure that the truth prevails. After thorough engagement with the Senate President, it is clear that he was misled into thinking and making statements that do not reflect the reality of UNN’s administration. As an organization committed to justice, NANS will not stand by while falsehoods are used to malign a diligent and honest public servant.
Dr. (Mrs.) Celine Nnebedum remains a beacon of administrative excellence, and her unwavering dedication to the university's strong ideals of character and integrity should be celebrated, not attacked. We call on all well-meaning students, staff, and stakeholders to disregard the baseless accusations against her and stand in defense of truth and integrity"
Signed:
Comrade Cajetan Ali
Chairman, NANS Enugu State.
