UniCal VC defies court over chapel

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, University of Calabar, has repeatedly barred worshippers from accessing the University of Calabar Chapel of Redemption, despite a Nigeria — Federal High Court of Nigeria injunction restraining him from interfering with the chapel's activities. The court issued the injunction on August 4 and sustained it on August 20, with the case adjourned until September 2. On August 23, university security personnel, acting on the vice-chancellor's directive, prevented worshippers from entering the chapel and ordered them to leave campus, forcing them to hold their service on a nearby street. This was the second such incident in August, following a similar denial on August 16. The dispute stems from University of Calabar's administrative actions against the chapel's leadership, including removing chaplain Joseph Ushie, evicting him from university quarters, appointing Israel Eyo as interim chaplain, suspending council chairman Essien Oku, dissolving the church council, and appointing a caretaker committee. Joseph Ushie subsequently filed a lawsuit, leading to the court injunction. Despite the court order, the vice-chancellor has continued to interfere, with Deputy Chief Security Officer Monday Johnson stating he was acting on orders and risked losing his job if he allowed worshippers to remain. Church council secretary Imo Nse expressed that members expected the court to protect their right to worship and remain committed to obeying the law.