By Michael Ovat
The leadership of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Owerrl Zone, has vow not to succumb to any form of harassment and intimidation in it agitation for the implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement in Imo State University (IMSU).
The Union made the vow via statement signed and made available to Journalists in Awka, on Wednesday by the ASUU Owerri Zonal Coordinator, Prof Dennis Aribodor, in reaction to the arrest and detention of it two executive committee members by the University management while monitoring the ongoing strike at the Varsity.
The statement read in part, The attention of ASUU Owerri Zone has been drawn to the arrest and detention of two (2) Executive Committee (EXCO) members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Imo State University Branch, while monitoring the ongoing strike at the University. The two officials are Chinedu Egbuchu, Vice Chairperson, and Nnamdi Chibo, Investment Secretary, of the Branch.
“They were monitoring activities at the Faculty of Media and Communication Studies and taking notes when the incident occurred. Information available to us indicate that the two EXCO members met the IMSU’s Public Relations Officer at the Faculty, where examinations were being conducted.
“There was no altercation or confrontation between the ASUU officials and the Public Relations Officer.
“However, the situation changed when the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the University arrived at the scene and physically took the Vice Chairperson, Chinedu Egbuchu, and the Investment Secretary to the University’s security building, where police officers were already stationed.
“They were questioned and taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), where they were detained for over seven (7) hours before their bails were procured at One Million Naira (₦1,000,000.00) bond each, with a directive to return to the State CID on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
“It is important to state that ASUU IMSU is on a legitimate strike after fulfilling all the conditions for the commencement of the strike as approved by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
“The press may recall that on Monday 29th June, 2026, ASUU Owerri Zone organised a press conference alerting the public that more than five (5) months after the commencement of implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, that the agreement was yet to be implemented in the two state-owned universities in ASUU Owerri Zone, namely: Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) and Imo State University (IMSU) owned by the Anambra State Government and Imo State Government, respectively. We called on all stakeholders especially the University Administrations, Governing Councils and Visitors (the two State Governors) to commence implementation to avert industrial disharmony.
“Our Branch in IMSU issued a 21-Days ultimatum and nothing was done.
“This was followed by a National Visitation by our Union, all in a bid to avert the strike. Now that the strike has commenced, what is expected of the Administration of Imo State University is not an intimidation.
“ASUU and her members can never be intimidated. Rather, the relevant authorities including the Visitor to Imo State University should to apprehend the strike by implementing the 2025 Agreement.
“To the Imo State University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Uchefula Ugonna Chukwumaeze (SAN), ASUU Owerri Zone will hold you personally responsible if anything happen to any of our members and their family members. The struggle of our Union in Imo State University is for the good of the University including that of the Vice Chancellor. Therefore, there is no need for intimidation and our Union cannot succumb to intimidation.
“We reiterate our call to the Visitor of Imo State University, Governor Hope Uzodimma, to direct the implemention of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement in Imo State University without further delay, the statement concluded.
