Following the viral video alleging that a priest was caught in a sexual misconduct with a female student, the Management of Tansian University, Umunya (TANU), Anambra State, has categorically refuted and condemned what it described as “the false allegations of sexual harassment leveled against a priest associated with the University.”
In an official statement, the Registrar of the institution, Rev. (Dr) Innocent Uke, MST, disclosed that “The University hereby states clearly that no incident of sexual harassment involving the said priest and any female student took place either within the University premises or outside the institution as alleged.”
“The accusations are entirely unfounded, misleading.”
He explained that “The accusations are entirely unfounded, misleading, and capable of tarnishing the hard-earned reputation of both the priest and the University.”
Stressing that the matter has been reported to the police, noting that the institution upholds high ethical standards.
“Indeed , there was a little crisis in the university last week, which has nothing to do with sexual harassment. The matter has been reported to the police and the perpetrators are being investigated.
“Tansian University is a faith-based institution founded on strong moral, ethical, and spiritual values. The University Management maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of misconduct, including sexual harassment, intimidation, or abuse of students and staff,” he said.
However, the management assured the “students, parents, guardians, and the general public that the University does not condone, support, or consolidate any act capable of undermining the dignity and safety of members of the academic community.”
The registrar urged “the public to disregard the malicious allegations and and the perpetrators to refrain from spreading false, malicious and unverified information capable of causing unnecessary panic and reputational damage.”
On his part, the institution’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) stated the University “categorically denies, refutes any sexual harassment as being alleged and circulated in the social media between a priest associated with the institution and a female student,” clarifying that it “did not take place anywhere within or outside the school premises.
He corroborated Registrar’s position that “The issue has equally been reported to the police who are also investigating the matter.”
The PRO who spoke on behalf of the management of the institution confirmed that “there was no sexual harassment involving any priest associated with Tansian University, Umunya and any female student. We repeat, no such incident took place. Furthermore, we want to put it clearly that Tansian University is a faith-based institution.”
“Being a faith-based institution, we are conscious, aware about the founding father’s vision.”
Citing the foundation father’s vision and mission, the officer noted that the institution upholds educational excllence, maintaining that the University is fully registed with the National Universities Commission (NUC).
“Being a faith-based institution, we are conscious, aware about the founding father’s vision, mission for the institution. I have in mind the very reverend Monsignor Professor J.B. Akam, his vision for the institution when it was conceived and established, his excellence in education, advancement of education. And since then, since the licencing of the institution in 2007 by the National Universities Commission. We have carried this job with all amount of dignity, honour and academic excellence.
“We want to inform the general public that what happened in our campus and insult people who do not know, taking laws into their hands, has been reported to the police and until the police investigation and report is out, we will issue further statements. What I have said so far is on behalf of the management of Tansian University, a faith-based institution with campuses in Oba and Umunya,” he said.
He further stated, “For further information, contact the office of the PRO on 08036765914 [WhatsApp number], while emphasising that the “general public should disregard whatever they are seeing on Facebook or any other social media.”
In a world of fake news, and deepfake, this development calls for caution in the posting, reposting and publishing of unverified content by individuals and reputable media.
Established in 2007 as a private Christian institution by Very Rev. Msgr. Prof. John Bosco Akam, the University provides high education that is anchored on discipline, moral values and academic excellence.
