EZZY INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE OF NURSING SCIENCE ENUGU: End Persecution of Ifeoma Nwaogaranya Now!
In continuation of their act of using the state apparatus of coercion to intimidate a victim of their administrative authoritarianism into silence, the management of Ezzy International College of Nursing Science, a private school in Enugu State, has served Mrs. Ifeoma Nwaogaranya, a former nursing student of the institution, with a court summon. Her offence was publicly speaking out against her victimization by the school.
For their role in the public campaign against the victimization of Ifeoma, Francis Nwapa, National Secretary of the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) and a leading member of the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) as well as two media organisations Afia TV Enugu and Sahara Reporters are also included as defendants in the case. However, Francis has not been served with any court process as of the third week of July 2026.
Earlier, different security agencies including Police and Department of State Services (DSS) had been enlisted in the attempt to intimidate and silence Ifeoma and Francis.
BACKGROUND OF THE MATTER
The controversy began after a student health worker Joy Ezeugwu, who was posted to Uwani General Hospital, Enugu State, by the institution recorded and shared a video exposing the deplorable conditions at the hospital. The video showed poor infrastructure, lack of electricity, inadequate water supply, heaps of refuse, and difficult conditions under which healthcare workers attended to patients, including pregnant women and nursing mothers.
Instead of focusing attention on addressing these serious healthcare challenges, Joy Ezeugwu was victimized by the school apparently at the instance of the state government. In discussions that arose within the school’s WhatsApp group concerning Joy Ezeugwu’s actions, Ifeoma expressed her opinion that Joy Ezeugwu had done nothing wrong by drawing public attention to the poor state of a public healthcare facility. This led to hostility from the school administration towards Ifeoma and her own eventual unjust expulsion as was removed from school communication platforms and excluded from academic activities.
PUBLIC CAMPAIGN AND SOLIDARITY ACTIONS
In response, the YRC through different public and media statements condemned what is a clear pattern of suppression of dissent and victimization of students by the institution, and demanded an end to repression as well as respect for students’ rights, and democratic procedures. YRC also supported the demand by Ifeoma for the refund of fees she had paid if she was no longer permitted to continue her studies.
We call on civil society organisations, human right groups, civil right lawyers and activists to help build a shield around Ifeoma against the plan of the school to use court as a tool to deepen her persecution and pressure the school to refund her school fee. They should also support the following position which is the basis of the YRC’s intervention in the matter:
- Students should not be victimized for expressing opinions.
- Educational institutions should uphold democratic procedures and fair hearing.
- Security agencies and state institutions should not be deployed to intimidate students, workers, journalists, or activists involved in civil disputes.
- Democratic rights, including freedom of expression, must be respected.