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SOJA Urges Madonna University to Reconsider Nursing Students’ Expulsion, Suspension
SOJA Urges Madonna University to Reconsider Nursing Students’ Expulsion, Suspension
By: Michael Mike
The Speak Out for Justice Advocacy Ltd/Gte (SOJA) has appealed to the management of Madonna University, Elele Campus, Rivers State, to reconsider the expulsion of a final-year nursing student and the one-year suspension of 14 others over a viral social media video, warning that disciplinary measures should not unnecessarily destroy the academic and professional futures of young people.
The human rights advocacy organisation urged the university to embrace proportionality, fairness and compassion in resolving the controversy, while maintaining that students must be held accountable for breaches of professional ethics and institutional regulations.
In a press statement dated October 9, 2026, SOJA’s Founder and Executive Director, Hameed Ajibola Jimoh, said the university should consider less severe disciplinary measures where appropriate, including formal warnings, ethics training, counselling and supervised remediation.
The appeal comes amid growing public reactions to the university’s decision to expel one 500-level nursing student and suspend 14 others for one year over a video showing nursing students dancing within the institution’s teaching hospital.
The video, which circulated widely on social media, was associated with a trend featuring healthcare workers dancing in clinical environments and reportedly carried the caption, “No fall sick o, na Gen Z full hospital now.”
The incident has triggered calls from student organisations and human rights advocates for the university to review the sanctions, with concerns raised over the consequences for students who have invested years in their education and are approaching the completion of their nursing programmes.
SOJA acknowledged that professional discipline was essential, particularly in nursing, where patient dignity, privacy, confidentiality and welfare must remain paramount.
However, Jimoh argued that the severity of disciplinary measures should be assessed against the nature of the misconduct, the individual circumstances of the students, their academic records and the availability of alternative corrective measures.
“Discipline must correct misconduct without unnecessarily destroying the future of young people,” he said.
The organisation maintained that expulsion and lengthy suspension, especially at an advanced stage of a degree programme, could have consequences extending beyond the immediate disciplinary objective, including the loss of years of academic effort, financial investment and future professional opportunities.
Cites constitutional safeguards
SOJA also invoked Nigeria’s constitutional and international human rights obligations, arguing that disciplinary proceedings should respect human dignity and the principles of fair hearing.
It cited Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution, which protects human dignity, and Section 36, which guarantees fair hearing in the determination of civil rights and obligations.
The organisation further referenced Articles 5 and 17 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, concerning human dignity and the right to education, as well as Article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which recognises the right to education.
SOJA, however, acknowledged that these protections do not exempt students from reasonable university regulations or automatically invalidate disciplinary sanctions.
Rather, it argued that the exercise of disciplinary authority should be guided by procedural fairness, proportionality and respect for the legitimate educational interests of affected students.
The organisation called on Madonna University to review the sanctions individually, ensure that the students had meaningful opportunities to be heard and pursue any available internal appeals, and consider alternative penalties where justified by the circumstances.
It also urged the institution to strengthen training on patient confidentiality, professional ethics, digital responsibility and respect for human dignity to prevent similar incidents.
Wider calls for clemency
SOJA’s intervention follows appeals by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the Nigerian Universities Nursing Students’ Association (NUNSA) for the university to reconsider its decision.
NANS has urged the institution to replace the expulsion with a stern warning, arguing that the punishment could have lasting consequences for the affected students’ academic careers and professional aspirations.
NUNSA has also called for constructive engagement and a fair review of the disciplinary measures, disclosing that it had commenced discussions with relevant stakeholders to represent the interests of the affected students.
Amnesty International has similarly urged the university to reverse the sanctions, describing them as disproportionate and advocating dialogue and mediation.
The controversy has generated contrasting reactions, with some Nigerians arguing that nursing students must uphold the highest standards of professional conduct, particularly within hospital environments, while others believe the sanctions should be reconsidered in view of the students’ stage of academic progression.
SOJA stressed that its appeal should not be interpreted as an endorsement of misconduct but as a call for accountability that takes into consideration the consequences of punishment.
“A university should uphold standards while remaining an institution of learning, correction and human development,” the organisation said.
It added that protecting patients and maintaining professional discipline were compatible with offering students a second chance where the circumstances justified it.
SOJA urged the university management to exercise its discretion with wisdom and compassion, giving the affected students an opportunity to learn from the incident and rebuild their professional futures, subject to appropriate safeguards and accountability.
Editorial note: The background on the sanctions and interventions by NANS, NUNSA and Amnesty International is supported by published reports. Before publication, it would be advisable to seek Madonna University’s response to the latest appeal and verify the students’ individual disciplinary outcomes.
SOJA Urges Madonna University to Reconsider Nursing Students’ Expulsion, Suspension
NHRC seeks death penalty moratorium as 3,000 inmates languish on death row
…Commission urges governors to commute sentences, calls for review of mandatory capital punishment laws
By: Michael Mike
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on the Federal Government to declare an official moratorium on executions and state governors to commute eligible death sentences to life imprisonment, amid concerns that more than 3,000 inmates remain on death row across Nigeria.
The commission said Nigeria was approaching 10 consecutive years without a state execution, a development it described as meeting the international standard for a de facto moratorium, despite the continued imposition of death sentences and the prolonged detention of condemned inmates.
The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu, made the call on Friday in Abuja during the commemoration of the 2026 World Day Against the Death Penalty at the commission’s headquarters.
Ojukwu urged the Federal Government to formalise the suspension of executions, while calling on state governors to exercise their constitutional prerogative of mercy to commute death sentences, particularly in cases where inmates had exhausted their appeals but remained on death row.
He also advocated a review of laws prescribing mandatory death sentences, arguing that judges should have the discretion to consider mitigating circumstances and systemic vulnerabilities before determining appropriate punishment.
Although capital punishment remains constitutionally valid in Nigeria, the NHRC chief stressed that its administration must be consistent with the country’s human rights obligations and the fundamental principles of fair trial and due process.
He expressed concern that inadequate access to pro bono legal representation, forced confessions and delays in bringing suspects to trial continued to undermine procedural justice, raising questions about the fairness of proceedings in capital cases.
According to him, the protection of human rights requires more than the existence of legal provisions, insisting that the justice system must guarantee fair hearings and ensure that the death penalty is restricted to the most serious crimes in line with applicable international standards.
The commission outlined three immediate policy measures: an official moratorium on executions, the commutation of eligible death sentences to life imprisonment, and a comprehensive review of laws prescribing mandatory capital punishment.
Ojukwu’s appeal places renewed focus on the position of condemned inmates who have exhausted their legal options but remain in custody, as well as the wider implications of prolonged confinement on the administration of criminal justice.
A formal moratorium, the commission argued, would provide an immediate policy framework for suspending executions while the country considers broader reforms to its capital punishment regime.
The proposed review of mandatory death penalty provisions would also allow courts to take individual circumstances into account when sentencing offenders, rather than being compelled by law to impose the same punishment regardless of relevant mitigating factors.
The commemoration was organised by the NHRC in partnership with Avocats Sans Frontières (ASF) France, the Australian High Commission and the Embassy of Germany, with support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy.
Ojukwu expressed hope that deliberations at the event would produce a joint call-to-action communiqué to advance sustainable reforms in Nigeria’s justice sector.
The commission’s position comes amid continuing debates over capital punishment, the protection of the rights of accused persons and the need to strengthen safeguards against miscarriages of justice.
NHRC seeks death penalty moratorium as 3,000 inmates languish on death row
COAS Deepens Military-Traditional Institution Partnership for National Security
By: Zagazola Makama
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with traditional institutions and host communities to enhance intelligence gathering and national security.
Shaibu gave the assurance on Friday, Oct. 9, when he paid homage to the Andoma of Doma Kingdom, His Royal Highness Alhaji Dr Ahmadu Aliyu Ogga Onawo, at his palace in Doma, Nasarawa State.
The COAS was in Doma for the graduation ceremony of an elite Special Forces Battalion trained at the Nigerian Army Special Forces School in the kingdom.
He acknowledged the strategic role of traditional institutions and host communities in intelligence gathering, early warning, community trust and the promotion of sustainable peace.
Shaibu appreciated the Andoma and the people of Doma for their continued support and hospitality, stressing that a whole-of-society approach remained vital to addressing contemporary security challenges.
He noted that cooperation between the military, traditional rulers and local communities was essential to strengthening security operations and building public confidence.
In his response, the Andoma commended the COAS for his leadership and the establishment of the Nigerian Army Special Forces School in Doma, describing the facility as a significant contribution to the kingdom.
The traditional ruler pledged the continued support of the institution and the people of Doma to the Nigerian Army, while offering prayers for lasting peace, stability and security across the country.
The visit underscores the importance of civil-military cooperation and the role of traditional institutions in supporting security efforts and fostering peaceful coexistence in host communities.
COAS Deepens Military-Traditional Institution Partnership for National Security
MOPOL Killed in Machete Attack by suspected Fulani herder in Plateau
By Zagazola Makama
A Mobile Police Officer, identified as Cpl. Abdulrahman Auwal, has been killed in a machete attack by fulani herders along Kwi Road in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Security sources said the incident occurred at about 6:51 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, when troops of Sector 4, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), responded to a report of an attack on the personnel.
The sources said troops who arrived at the scene found the victim with multiple machete wounds, while the suspected assailants, believed to be Fulani youths, had fled.
The victim was evacuated to a hospital by his colleagues, but he was later confirmed dead.
Security personnel have commenced investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack and identify those responsible for possible arrest.
Further details are expected as the investigation progresses.
MOPOL Killed in Machete Attack by suspected Fulani herder in Plateau
NHRC seeks death penalty moratorium as 3,000 inmates languish on death row
COAS Deepens Military-Traditional Institution Partnership for National Security
Nigerian Army Graduates Elite Special Forces Battalion to Boost Counter-Terrorism Operations
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