The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to launch an independent investigation into the alleged assault, torture, and degrading treatment of a student of Coal City University, Enugu State.
The organisation also demanded the immediate withdrawal of the one-year suspension imposed on the student, Miss Divine, describing the disciplinary action as punitive and unjust under the circumstances.
Miss Divine, a 300-level Physiotherapy student, was reportedly involved in an incident that recently gained public attention after a video of the alleged assault surfaced on social media. RULAAC noted that the university has yet to publicly address the matter.
In a statement issued by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, the group expressed concern over the incident, saying it raises serious questions about students’ rights, institutional accountability, and the welfare standards maintained by private universities in Nigeria.
RULAAC maintained that no academic institution has the legal authority to subject students to physical assault, humiliation, torture, or any form of inhuman treatment. According to the organisation, such actions violate constitutional provisions guaranteeing the dignity of citizens, as well as international human rights obligations to which Nigeria is a signatory.
The group also criticised the university’s reported decision to suspend the victim and two other female students who allegedly recorded the incident. It argued that punishing individuals who preserved evidence of a possible rights violation sends the wrong message and could discourage victims and witnesses from reporting misconduct.
Beyond the alleged assault, RULAAC raised concerns about reports of academic disruptions within the Physiotherapy Department. It cited claims that students continued to pay tuition despite inadequate teaching arrangements allegedly caused by the prolonged absence of lecturers linked to unpaid salaries.
The advocacy group further called for investigations into allegations that students paid for transportation services, academic postings, and clinical placements that were either unavailable or not provided.
RULAAC urged the Minister of Education and the NUC to ensure the reversal of the suspensions imposed on the students who recorded the incident, investigate the allegations of poor academic conditions and unpaid lecturers, and examine claims regarding fees collected for services not rendered.
The organisation pledged support for the affected students and called for accountability to protect the rights and welfare of learners across the country.