By: Joy Musa
The Benue State House of Assembly has rejected the nomination of Professor Timothy Ornguga, a lecturer at Benue State University (BSU), for a commissioner role in Governor Hyacinth Alia’s cabinet following multiple petitions alleging misconduct and abuse of office during his academic tenure.
During the screening session held on Wednesday, lawmakers cited four formal petitions three from former students and one from a community family accusing Ornguga of vindictive behavior, intimidation, and academic victimisation. The Assembly deemed his responses to the allegations unsatisfactory and requested the Governor to submit a replacement nominee.
The rejection follows weeks of public outcry and online complaints, with social media by unofficial testimonies echoing similar concerns. Among the most damning allegations was the case of a student who was reportedly failed unjustly. Upon appeal, an independent faculty committee reviewed the grade and reversed it from an “F” to a “B,” confirming the initial assessment was baseless and punitive.
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), an international NGO, also petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), urging a formal investigation into Ornguga’s conduct. Alumni groups from BSU, including the Law Class of 2015 and 2021, backed the petition, citing systemic abuse and long-standing patterns of intimidation.
Speaker Hyacinth Dajoh commended the Assembly’s diligence and reaffirmed the importance of integrity in public service. “We must ensure that those entrusted with leadership are not only qualified but also morally upright,” he stated.
Governor Alia has been asked to forward two new nominees to replace Ornguga and another rejected candidate, James Dwen, who faced separate allegations of financial misconduct during his tenure as a local government chairman.
This incident has sparked broader conversations about the ethical responsibilities of educators and the long-term consequences of abuse of power. As Victor Agbor, a concerned citizen, noted in a public commentary, “A lecturer is meant to be a guide, not a tormentor. This case is a moral lesson treat others with kindness and respect, because one never knows when their actions might come back to affect them.”
The Assembly confirmed six other nominees, urging them to serve the people of Benue with fairness and dedication.
