Tina Amanda
Hearing on the appeal filed by the University of Port Harcourt against the judgement of a federal high court which ordered the school management to issue certificates and mobilize about 1, 200 aggrieved students for youth service was stalled in an appeal court sitting in Port Harcourt due to the absence of the appeal panel.
Our correspondent, Tina Amanda, reports that some members of the appeal panel were out for a national assignment.
Recall that a federal high court presided by Justice Hilary Oshomo had earlier ordered the University of Port Harcourt management to issue certificates to the 1,200 graduands who were unlawfully denied their rights to graduate and serve as youth corpers.
The federal high court also ordered that the school fees illegally collected from the graduands between 2016- 2018 academic session should be returned to them.
Counsel to the graduands KINGDOM CHUKWUEZI told our reporter Tina Amanda that a new date will be communicated by the court to hear the motion to strike out the appeal.
He said that the plaintiff had offered the school authority an opportunity for settlement, saying that their prayer is for final resolution of the matter, so the graduands can go on with their lives.
Counsel KINGDOM CHUKWUEZI stressed that the University of Port Harcourt in the disobedience of the judgement of Justice Oshomo filed a motion for stay of judgement, which they also filed a response asking the court to dismiss the application seeking for a stay of execution.
On his part, counsel to the University of Port Harcourt EMEKA NJOKU, said they are praying for the appeal court to upturn the judgement of the lower court, adding that he is hoping that the matter will be in favour of his client.
