4th February, 2016
Eromosele Ebhomele
Jane Ottah, a student with disability, has sued the management of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) after her admission into the institution was abruptly terminated because of her challenge with speech and hearing.
She was said to have earlier been admitted on merit but deregistered and handed a letter to that effect in 2015 when her alleged deafness was discovered.
The suit is currently before a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt with hearing scheduled for 19 February and some lawyers are ready to help in the case on pro bono basis.
The institution had told the 28-year-old student in the letter of disengagement that it does not have the facilities to handle her case.
“Since the university does not have special communication facilities, the Vice-Chancellor has directed that you be de-registered on health grounds
“I am in the circumstance, directed to inform you that you have been de-registered on health grounds with immediate effect. You are therefore advised to hand over all university property(ies) in your possession to your Head of Department and thereafter leave the campus,” the institution’s registrar said in the letter to Jane who was a student in the Department of Educational Foundation.
Jane and other Nigerians who support her are optimistic that she would get justice.
“One hopes that it will also help establish a doctrine of best-practices for addressing the equal access needs of deaf undergraduate and graduate students in Nigerian universities.
“Ultimately one hopes it will be one more step towards creating a better Nigeria for everyone,” one of her sponsors told our correspondent.
There had been widespread condemnation of the de-registration of Jane.