CSO sues Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University over ‘illegal’ appointment of bursar

Save Nigeria Movement, a civil society organisation (CSO), has filed a suit against the governing council of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, seeking to stop the appointment of Simon Tyoule Ortese, as bursar in the institution.

In the suit filed at the Makurdi federal high court, Benue capital, marked FHC/MKD/CS/28/2023, the CSO claimed that Ortese was not qualified for the appointment.

According to the plaintiff, the defendants breached relevant laws when they appointed Ortese as bursar despite not having at least five years of experience as a deputy bursar.

The plaintiff wants the court to restrain the university’s governing council from allowing Ortese to assume office as the bursar.

“A declaration that the 6th defendant, a deputy director, audit unit, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi was not qualified for appointment by the governing council, into the vacant position of bursar,” the suit reads.

“A declaration that the selection board did not follow the requirements of at least five (5) years experience as a deputy bursar in its recommendations to the governing council, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, the appointment of the 6th defendant into the vacant position of bursar.

“A declaration that the appointment by the governing council, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi of 6th defendant, a deputy director, audit unit, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi into the vacant position of bursar, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi contradicted 2004, Federal Universities of Agriculture (amendment) act, 2019, Financial Regulations No. 1709 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2009 and other relevant Statutes by this honourable court as to the appointment and qualification of the 6th defendant into the vacant position of Bursar, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi.”

The group said only the declarations and orders of the court can resolve the issue of the requirements or qualifications for the appointment of the 6″ defendant into the vacant position of bursar.

The defendants included the minister of education, minister of agriculture, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, the pro-chancellor and chairman, the governing council of the university, the registrar and secretary of the governing council and Simon Tyoule Ortese.

The court has not fixed the date for the hearing of the case.