A Rector’s Fight for Truth: The Case That Defined Dr. Basilia Igbokwe’s Leadership

By Raphael Obasiohia…

It was a hot afternoon, and the paper we had just written was a tough one. Nnamdi, like many others, was in a rush to submit his script in the final minutes. As he hurried out, he noticed something—a paper had fallen from the invigilator’s stack as the invigilator quickly left the exam hall. Without hesitation, Nnamdi picked it up, along with his own, and ran after the invigilator to return it.

Just as he tried to hand both scripts over, a security operative from the Man O’ War unit—posted at every corner of the hall to prevent malpractice—noticed him. The operative, suspicious, grabbed Nnamdi, accusing him of having two scripts and alleging that he had written the exam for someone else. Nnamdi, shocked, couldn’t explain himself. He was a quiet, reserved individual who barely spoke in class, and now he was caught in a whirlwind of accusations. He was manhandled, beaten, and thrown into the security patrol bus, unable to defend himself.

None of us knew what had transpired; we could only watch in horror. Nnamdi, who had only tried to do the right thing, was now being labeled a cheat. Later, as the General Course Representative, I learned from Nnamdi that he was taken to the security office, where they demanded a bribe in exchange for his freedom from a possible expulsion. But Nnamdi refused—why should he pay for something he didn’t do? Where would he even find the money?

The corrupt officials, unbothered by his innocence, escalated the matter. They reported Nnamdi for examination malpractice, claiming he had impersonated another student. The female student whose script Nnamdi had picked up had already left the state, unaware of the chaos surrounding her. She had submitted her paper earlier, not realizing that it had fallen from the invigilator’s stack. With no fair investigation, both Nnamdi and the girl received expulsion letters within weeks.

The injustice of it all was infuriating. The female student rushed back to the school, shocked by the news that someone had supposedly written the exam for her. She had no idea what was going on. The entire story was built on baseless assumptions, theories concocted by officials who didn’t bother to investigate properly.

Nnamdi, a member of my study group, was an innocent victim. If there had been any foul play, we would have known. He deserved a fair hearing, but the system had already prejudged him. The authorities beat and harassed him, making him too scared to even defend himself when summoned.

Determined to seek justice, I approached our then Head of Department, Dr. Basilia Igbokwe, a woman known for her integrity. She was moved by the evidence we presented, proving Nnamdi’s innocence, and immediately took action. She believed in fighting for her students and took it upon herself to ensure Nnamdi and the other girl received a fair hearing.

Dr. Igbokwe

Day after day, Dr. Igbokwe sacrificed her time, sometimes skipping her lunch, to accompany us to the panel. She pleaded for the case to be reviewed, insisting that the students be allowed to present their side of the story. It wasn’t a quick battle—more than a month passed—but she never gave up. Eventually, her relentless efforts paid off, and Nnamdi and the other student were exonerated.

Drr. Igbokwe’s unwavering commitment to justice has left an indelible mark on all who knew her, especially those of us from Mass Communication Department (OND 2015 to 2017), who recognized her as the “Freedom Fighter.”

Today, hearing that Dr. Basilia Igbokwe has been appointed the Rector of Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri (FEDPONEK) fills me with hope. Her appointment signifies a new era for the students of Nekede—a time of reformation and change. She is more than just a rector; she is a true leader and a mother to her students. Those who truly know her will testify to her fairness and strength. As an alumnus of FEDPONEK, I encourage the current students, lecturers, and staff to support her leadership wholeheartedly.

Congratulations, Dr. Basilia Igbokwe. FEDPONEK is in for a brighter future under your leadership.

Raphael Obasiohia,

Head of News and Current Affairs,

Bridge Radio 98.7FM Asaba