A Battle Against Injustice That Lasted 22 Years
For over two decades, Associate Professor Inih Ebong, an associate professor at the theatre arts department, lived a nightmare. Once a respected lecturer at the University of Uyo, his career was abruptly and unjustly cut short in 2002 for daring to speak against corruption, maladministration, and mismanagement within the institution. The price he paid for his outspokenness was not only the loss of his livelihood but also a systematic attempt to erase his contributions, destroy his reputation, and condemn him to a life of struggle. Now, after a relentless legal battle, the judiciary has finally ruled in his favor. But justice delayed is justice denied—will the Nigerian government and academic institutions learn from this gross miscarriage of justice?
The Crushing Weight of Victimization
Professor Ebong’s case is a textbook example of how Nigerian institutions, particularly universities, weaponize power against dissenting voices. His wrongful dismissal was not just an attack on his career but an outright attempt to silence intellectual criticism. He was falsely accused of abandoning his post, a charge that was later revealed to be baseless. The real reason behind his termination was his vocal criticism of corruption and administrative malpractices in the university.
The University of Uyo did not stop at sacking him. They waged a vicious media campaign, publishing disclaimers in national newspapers warning the public not to associate with him. This smear campaign had devastating consequences—he lost a lucrative job offer from the University of Melbourne, and his children were effectively blacklisted from the same university where he once taught. For years, he fought not just to clear his name but to reclaim the dignity that was stolen from him.
A Legal Struggle That Exposed a Rotten System
Professor Ebong’s legal journey was grueling. Time and again, he secured court victories, only for the university to appeal, dragging the process for 22 long years. In 2020, the National Industrial Court ruled in his favor, ordering his reinstatement and a payment of NGN 10 million in damages. The university refused to comply, stalling the execution of the judgment. Finally, in December 2024, the Court of Appeal in Calabar upheld the ruling, affirming that Ebong had been unjustly dismissed and must be reinstated immediately.
Yet, despite this final ruling, the question remains: will the University of Uyo and the Nigerian government take immediate steps to enforce this judgment, or will further bureaucratic games prolong his suffering?
The Human Cost: A Man’s Life in Tatters
Justice, when delayed for so long, often loses its meaning. While the courts have finally vindicated him, Professor Ebong’s life has been permanently scarred by the ordeal. At 73, he is battling serious health complications, including cardiac failure. Years of stress, legal battles, and financial hardship have taken a severe toll on his well-being. If not for the intervention of businessman and philanthropist Olufemi Peter Otedola, who covered his medical bills, he may not have lived to see this day.
What price can truly compensate for 22 years of stolen livelihood? What can the university or the government say to a man who has been forced to watch his career, health, and personal life deteriorate because he dared to speak the truth?
The Broader Implications for Nigeria’s Academic Freedom
The case of Professor Ebong is not an isolated incident. Nigerian universities have a long and shameful history of persecuting lecturers who refuse to bow to corrupt leadership. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has repeatedly condemned such victimization, citing numerous cases of wrongful dismissals, unpaid salaries, and other punitive actions against lecturers who challenge the status quo.
This institutionalized oppression has far-reaching consequences. It creates an academic environment where lecturers are afraid to speak out, stifling intellectual freedom and critical discourse. Universities are supposed to be bastions of free thought and knowledge production. Instead, they have become breeding grounds for authoritarianism, where questioning leadership can cost an individual their entire career.
President Tinubu, The Nation Demands an Answer
Now that the judiciary has affirmed that Professor Ebong was wrongfully dismissed, will the Nigerian government act? Will President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Education step in to ensure that justice is fully served? Or will they allow another victim of the system to fade into obscurity, another intellectual silenced by the crushing weight of corruption?
It is time for Nigeria to prove that it values justice, intellectual freedom, and integrity in governance. The government must not only enforce the court’s ruling but also ensure that no other academic suffers a similar fate. Professor Ebong’s case should serve as a wake-up call—one that forces immediate reforms to protect the rights of whistleblowers, strengthen university autonomy, and hold corrupt administrators accountable.
The world is watching. The Nigerian people are watching. And above all, Professor Inih Ebong is watching, waiting to see if his suffering was in vain or if his victory will lead to lasting change.
