Court Stops Varsity From Interfering With Church Affairs

The Federal High Court, Port Harcourt Judicial Division, has restrained the management of the University of Calabar (UNICAL)and other respondents from interfering with the activities of the Chapel of Redemption pending the determination of a fundamental rights suit.

The order was made on Tuesday by Justice Phoebe M. Ayua in Suit No: FHC/CA/FHR/87/2026. The court granted an interim injunction following an ex-parte motion filed by Rev. Joseph Litiamliweabe Ushie, who had approached the court over what he described as a ban from his place of worship.

The respondents in the suit are the vice-chancellor, Prof. Offiong E. Offiong; the registrar, Dr Chukwuka I. Icha; Prof. Paul O. Ajah; the special adviser to the Vice-Chancellor on Religious and Related Matters, Rev. Timothy Ebere and the chairman of the Christian Council of Nigeria, Cross River State Chapter, Most Rev. Offiong Mensah.

The applicant instituted the action to challenge the ban placed on him by the VC of Unical from attending activities at the UNICAL Chapel of Redemption and from entering the university premises with immediate effect.

He also alleged that the Vice-Chancellor evicted him, as chaplain, from his official quarters and, in violation of the church’s constitution, appointed an interim chaplain and a caretaker committee to run the church council even when the VC is not a member of the chapel.

According to court documents sighted by LEADERSHIP Friday, the respondents were accused of banning Rev. Dr. Joseph Ushie from participating in any activity at his place of worship and directing him to stay away from both the Chapel and the University of Calabar premises.

In the ruling, Justice Phoebe Ayua of the Port Harcourt vacation court, restrained the respondents, and anyone acting through them, from entering, trespassing upon, taking over, locking up, or in any way interfering with the premises of the UNICAL Chapel of Redemption located within the university.