The Nigerian government has dragged a university in the United States, the Alabama State University, to court for allegedly mishandling the scholarship meant for students’ rent, books and food.
According to a BBC report, Nigeria also accuses the university of charging them for accommodation they did not use and lessons they did not take.
But the university has denied the allegation, telling local media it had “adhered to and complied with every instruction and direction given to the university by the Nigerian government regarding that agreement.”
It admitted that the Nigerian government was owed $202,000, saying it had been deposited into an account.
But Anthony Ifediba, who represents the students, said they believed the university might have withheld as much as $800,000.
He told the Montgomery Advertiser that the Nigerian government had paid Alabama State University about $5m, which was meant to cover tuition and living costs for all the students.
He said,
“I hope it will sober the Alabama State University up, and its new president, to realise that what these students are talking about is very serious and it’s having an adverse effect on them legally and I’d imagine public relations-wise.”
One student, Success Jumbo, spoke out about his experience. He said he was denied many things including student health insurance and just getting textbooks.
He said,
“My college experience has been ruined because I wasn’t allowed to do things that every other college student is doing.
“We went as far as asking our government to give us authorization for them to release the funds to us, which they did. On several occasions, they wrote two letters, which ASU bluntly declined.
“This is supposed to be money that has been made available for us,” Jumbo.
“It’s not like we are asking him to pay us or give us monies from his personal pocket. This was monies already made available for us when we need them.”
