Written By Ahmed Rufa’i in Dutse
The Federal University Dutse (FUD), Jigawa State, has defended the termination of the appointment of Dr. Ramla Muhammad Kamal, insisting that the action was carried out in accordance with due process and the institution’s Conditions of Service.
The university said the decision followed Dr. Kamal’s alleged failure to resume duty after the expiration of an approved study fellowship and subsequent extension.
However, FUD acknowledged that the dispute is now before the Federal High Court, saying it would refrain from making further comments on matters pending before the court.
The university’s position was contained in a statement issued in Dutse on Sunday by the Acting Director of Public Relations, Mr Abdullahi Yahaya Bello, and signed on behalf of the institution.
The statement, titled “Dr. Ramla Muhammad Kamal: Setting the Record Straight,” was issued in response to allegations by the former lecturer over the circumstances surrounding the termination of her appointment, including alleged breach of employment rights, defamation and denial of fair hearing.
According to the university, Kamal was employed on May 25, 2018, as a Lecturer in the Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences.
FUD said management subsequently approved her request for a two-year study fellowship at Universiti Putra Malaysia to pursue a master’s degree in Pharmacology and Toxicology under a self-sponsored arrangement with salary.
The institution said the approval was granted even though she had not completed the period ordinarily required to qualify for such a privilege.
It added that before embarking on the fellowship, Kamal signed a Study Fellowship Bond committing her to return to the university after completing the programme and serve for the prescribed period applicable to officers who enjoyed salary during their fellowship.
The university said it later approved an extension of the fellowship, moving her expected date of resumption to November 10, 2022.
“Despite this extension, Dr. Kamal did not return to duty after the expiration of the approved period,” the statement said.
FUD explained that following a staff audit conducted in 2024, Kamal was formally directed to resume duty but instead requested that her obligations under the Study Fellowship Bond be suspended.
The university said the request could not be approved and that she was advised through the Head of Department of Pharmacology to return to the institution in compliance with the terms of the bond.
Her continued failure to resume duty, it said, led to the commencement of an internal disciplinary process.
According to the institution, a formal query was issued to Kamal, to which she responded that she was in the United States awaiting residency documentation that would enable her to pursue further professional training in Clinical Pharmacology.
The university said she was subsequently given additional opportunities to regularise her position and participated virtually on two occasions before an Investigative Committee set up to examine cases involving officers who failed to resume duty after study fellowships.
It said Kamal was advised during the proceedings to return to the university and pursue any further requests through the appropriate administrative channels, but failed to do so.
The matter was subsequently referred to the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee, which, according to FUD, invited her twice to appear and defend herself.
The university said she did not honour the invitations.
“After considering the available records, the SSDC made recommendations to the Governing Council in accordance with the applicable regulations,” the statement said.
The institution added that the committee directed the Bursary Department to calculate salaries allegedly paid to Kamal during the relevant period, putting the amount at N16,375,817.
FUD also said the Governing Council directed that relevant authorities, including the embassy of her country of residence and other agencies, be notified in line with its administrative decisions.
On the publication in which Kamal’s name appeared, the university said it was issued pursuant to decisions of competent statutory authorities as part of administrative measures concerning officers who allegedly failed to fulfil obligations arising from approved study fellowships.
It maintained that the publication was neither arbitrary nor personal, but part of an official administrative process carried out in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities.
“The University maintains that the publication was lawfully made and that its contents are protected by the recognised legal defences of justification (truth) and qualified privilege,” it said.
On the court case, FUD said the issues raised by Kamal were currently before the Federal High Court.
It disclosed that it had entered appearance in the suit and filed appropriate processes, including a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court, which is awaiting judicial determination.
All efforts by TRUTHS FINDER to reach Dr. Ramla Muhammad Kamal for her response to the allegations contained in the university’s statement proved abortive.
Findings by TRUTHS FINDER indicate that Kamal said to be still in the United States and has yet to return to Nigeria.
Further checks revealed that the former lecturer has dragged FUD and its Registrar before the Federal High Court in Dutse, challenging what she described as her unlawful dismissal and seeking N120 million in damages over alleged defamation and breach of her employment rights.
In the suit, marked FHC/DUT/CS/18/2026, Kamal is asking the court to declare her dismissal unlawful, arguing that the university breached the terms of her employment, denied her fair hearing and publicised her dismissal before formally serving her with the dismissal letter.
She is also seeking an order compelling the university to withdraw the publication describing her as an absconding staff member and to issue a public apology.
Kamal is further claiming N100 million as general damages and N20 million as exemplary damages.
According to the court documents, Kamal was granted study leave with full salary to pursue postgraduate studies at Universiti Putra Malaysia, which she said she completed in 2023.
She claimed that she personally funded her tuition, accommodation, flights and other academic expenses with support from her family, while the university only paid her salary throughout the study period.
The claimant further stated that after completing her studies, she sought leave of absence to accompany her husband to the United States, where he secured a research appointment, while she planned to undertake a clinical pharmacology fellowship.
She alleged that the university rejected her request, stopped her salary in May 2024 and subsequently dismissed her in June 2026 after disciplinary proceedings.
The university has maintained that it acted within its regulations, while Kamal’s allegations remain subject to determination by the Federal High Court.
