Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
An expelled Higher National Diploma (HND) student of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Nuhu Nazif Muhammad, has publicly broken his silence on the circumstances that led to his dismissal from the institution, insisting he was not late for a lecture as alleged but had briefly stepped out to process his academic transcript before the class commenced. Muhammad's expulsion, which was announced on January 28, 2026, followed a disagreement with a lecturer, Farida Mustafa, over allegations that he and some of his classmates arrived late for class. The former student, who also served as President of the Mass Communication Students Association (MACOSA) during the 2024/2025 academic session, has now provided a detailed account of the events, accusing the institution of procedural irregularities and unfair treatment.
According to Muhammad, the incident that eventually led to his expulsion occurred on September 10, 2025. He recounted that he was already in the classroom before the lecturer arrived but later left briefly to see the institution's Exams Officer, Mallam Bello, regarding the processing of his transcript. "I was with the Exams Officer, Mallam Bello, discussing how I can get my transcripts, but when my friend Sunday Gyang called me that Miss Farida Mustafa just entered the class, I informed Mr Bello that Farida is in class I will have to go after the class we can continue," he said. On his way back to class, Muhammad said he met more than 20 students hurrying to the lecture venue. "They then pleaded with me to inform Miss Farida that they just had a makeup test with our Mallam Shamsu, but she never gave us a listening ear," he said. He claimed that while some lecturers usually permit students to enter classes after lectures have begun, Farida Mustafa took a different approach. "Ideally, some lecturers allow people to access the class if they know they didn't keep to time, but her own case is different. She always came late, and she always embarrassed the students with threats," he alleged.
Despite his role as class representative and president of the students' association, Muhammad said the lecturer refused to hear their explanation. "I pleaded alongside my classmates and knowing that I was the president, she kept us waiting for more than five minutes. I then drew her attention by raising my hands to take an excuse but she refused to recognize that," he said. "I entered the class with the intention of explaining to her that we were not really late as she assumed. Instead, the moment I stepped into the class she kept saying, 'Get out, get out, I don't care who you are.' I tried to explain our concerns to her even though she refused to listen to me."
However, the expulsion letter dated January 28, 2026, issued by the Office of the Registrar, offered a different account. The letter stated that Muhammad was invited to appear before the Students' Disciplinary Committee over "an alleged case of disrespect to Mrs. Farida Mustapha," but failed to honour the invitations. According to the Polytechnic, he was first invited on November 4, 2025, but did not appear before the committee. It added that he also failed to honour a second invitation dated November 11, 2025, choosing instead to respond through a letter addressed to his Head of Department. In a detailed letter of objection dated November 12, 2025, Muhammad acknowledged receiving the second summons but rejected it, arguing that the disciplinary proceedings were procedurally defective. He argued that the committee lacked what he described as competent jurisdiction, noting that the summons was tied to a Students' Union Government (SUG) reference number and contradicted the NBTE Code of Conduct (Regulation 33). He also claimed that the committee had failed to provide a written response to his four formal demands and had issued a new summons with less than 24 hours' notice. "The notice provides less than 48 hours of preparation time. The charges lack the necessary details (specific section of the Student Handbook violated, date, time, and location) required for me to prepare an adequate defense," he said.
Muhammad also filed a formal complaint against the lecturer, alleging that she had issued "documented video threats to impose a 'zero mark' and use her position to intimidate me." He also demanded that the committee cancel the disciplinary hearing, commence a proper investigation through the Investigating and Disciplinary Committee under the Registrar's Office, provide him with a certified copy of the Chief Security Officer's report, and prevent the lecturer from assessing or grading his academic work pending the outcome of the matter. Despite his objections, the Polytechnic maintained that Muhammad's conduct contravened the provisions of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi Students' Handbook (2016/2017), which requires students to maintain order and show respect to members of staff. The expulsion letter stated: "In view of the above, the committee recommended to Management that you be expelled from the Institution. Consequently, I am directed to inform you that you have been expelled from the Polytechnic with immediate effect."
In a letter reportedly tendered after his expulsion, Muhammad offered a sincere apology to the Chairman of the Students Disciplinary Committee, acknowledging that he had previously addressed his correspondence to the wrong committee. "I take full responsibility for this oversight. It was never my intention to disregard procedure, inconvenience the committee, or act outside established protocols," he wrote. He requested that the earlier letter be formally withdrawn and sought a new date to properly present his matter before the appropriate committee. However, according to Muhammad, the Polytechnic's management has now insisted that he withdraw his protest letter before his case can be reconsidered by the Students' Disciplinary Committee.
When contacted by SaharaReporters, Farida Mustafa declined to comment extensively on the matter, insisting that the disagreement was more serious than Muhammad had portrayed. "He is not being truthful with the incidents but many students witnessed the issue when it happened," she said. She, however, declined further comments, stating that since the matter was before the school management, she could not speak further. The case has also drawn the attention of the police. The Bauchi State Police Command summoned the former Deputy Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, Dr. Dalhatu Sa'idu Abubakar, for interrogation over allegations of physical assault, criminal intimidation, unlawful seizure of a mobile phone and threats allegedly made against Muhammad. The invitation followed a formal complaint submitted to the Commissioner of Police by Baushe Chambers, solicitors to Muhammad. According to information obtained by SaharaReporters, the case has since been taken over by the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) at the Bauchi State Police Headquarters. The Investigating Police Officer (IPO), after reviewing Muhammad's statement and the petition filed by his lawyers, reportedly contacted the former Deputy Rector.
The Take It Back Movement has also expressed concerns over what it described as the "unlawful, unjust, and procedurally flawed expulsion" of Muhammad, who also served as the group's Bauchi State Coordinator. The movement has vowed legal action and protests, alleging that the expulsion was linked to the student's insistence on due process. As the case continues to unfold, the dispute highlights the often-contentious relationship between students and staff in Nigerian tertiary institutions, and raises questions about the fairness and transparency of disciplinary procedures. For Muhammad, who was on the verge of graduating, the expulsion has effectively ended his academic journey at the polytechnic, while the institution maintains that due process was followed.
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