The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has launched a blistering attack on the management of Coal City University (CCU) in Enugu State, accusing the institution of trampling on the principles of justice, due process and fair hearing in its handling of the widely condemned assault of a female student.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday, RULAAC Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, dismissed the university’s recent suspension of the staff member accused of participating in the assault and its decision to review earlier disciplinary measures as little more than a public relations exercise forced by mounting outrage.
According to the rights group, the university’s actions suggest that its leadership acted first and sought the facts later.
“While the admission that a review is necessary is welcome, it raises a fundamental question,” Nwanguma said. “Why were disciplinary sanctions imposed in the first place without a proper investigation and fair hearing?”
He argued that a genuine commitment to accountability would have required management to establish the facts before taking punitive action.
“Instead, the victim of an alleged violent assault was suspended alongside students whose apparent offence was documenting and exposing the incident. That reflects a rush to judgment that disregards the most basic principles of justice.”
RULAAC contended that the university’s apparent reversal was driven not by introspection but by sustained public criticism and intense media scrutiny.
“The sudden reconsideration appears less the product of institutional reflection than the result of mounting public pressure and concerns over possible regulatory consequences,” Nwanguma stated. “Had the university genuinely sought the truth from the outset, widespread public outrage would not have been necessary.”
The organisation also expressed concern over allegations that individuals claiming to represent the university attempted to intimidate journalists who reported on the controversy.
“Whether or not such persons acted with official authorisation, any attempt to silence reporters or discourage scrutiny only deepens public suspicion and undermines confidence in the institution’s commitment to accountability,” the statement said.
RULAAC further criticised suggestions that lawyers, activists and journalists highlighting the incident were trying to tarnish the university’s image.
“The issue is not about bringing down Coal City University,” Nwanguma said. “It is about upholding standards. Universities are not merely centres for awarding degrees; they are moral and intellectual communities expected to uphold human dignity, critical thinking and respect for the rule of law.”
He warned that allegations of physical assault by university officials, punitive action against the victim and retaliation against whistleblowers collectively paint a troubling picture of an institution more concerned with reputation management than justice.
The comments come amid continuing fallout from the alleged assault of Miss Divine, a 300-level Physiotherapy student, at the university’s Thinkers Corner Hostel on June 10.
According to multiple reports, the incident began after the student chose to remain in her hostel to study while lecturers in her department were reportedly on strike over unpaid salaries.
Witnesses alleged that after refusing to relocate, the student was physically attacked by a female hostel manager, who allegedly dragged her by the hair and repeatedly struck her. The situation allegedly escalated when other university officials, including a Catholic Reverend Sister and the institution’s Chief Security Officer, joined in restraining and assaulting her.
A viral video from the incident captured the visibly distressed student crying out, “What crime have I committed to deserve this brutality?” while pleading for the violence to stop.
The controversy intensified after reports emerged that the university suspended the assaulted student and sanctioned fellow students who recorded the incident, prompting accusations that whistleblowers were being punished instead of protected.
Fresh allegations also surfaced that management attempted to discourage students from speaking publicly about the affair and restricted communication channels through which parents could demand accountability.
Against that backdrop, RULAAC has called for an independent, transparent and credible review of the university’s handling of the case.
The organisation urged Coal City University to immediately reverse what it described as unjust disciplinary measures against both the assaulted student and those who documented the incident, while ensuring that anyone found responsible for the alleged abuse is held accountable.
It also called on the National Universities Commission and other relevant regulatory authorities to closely monitor the institution’s response to ensure that justice is not sacrificed for institutional self-preservation.
“Educational institutions occupy a position of trust in society,” Nwanguma said. “That trust depends not on claims of excellence but on adherence to justice, dignity, accountability and respect for fundamental rights.
“How Coal City University responds to this crisis will determine whether it is genuinely committed to those principles or merely invokes them when public pressure leaves it with no alternative.”
