Dozens of Environmental Health students, Akwa Ibom State College of Health Technology, Etinan, on Monday besieged the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, demanding a refund of their examination fees.
The students have accused former Head of Department of Environmental Health of the college, Mr. Mfon Etuk, of embezzling over N1m examination fees before his redeployment to the Ministry of Health.
The students carried placards with inscriptions like: "Mfon Etuk return our money"; "heartless father"; "selfish administrator"; "entrusted fellow" and "Mfon is more dangerous than Ebola".
A student, Mr. Mfon Etim, said the students only succeeded in meeting the Protocol Officer as they didn't see any member of the State House following the House adjournment till Tuesday.
The students also went to protest at Akwa Ibom State Broadcasting Corporation, where they interacted with journalists.
They added that they have concluded arrangement to invite the Nigeria Police to arraign the former HOD for alleged theft.
A source in the state ministry of health revealed that the ministry is making plans to pay the examination fees for the students before commencement of their exams, which begins next week.
In July, students of Environmental Health of the School of Heath Technology, Etinan had thronged the State Ministry of Health and demanded that an employee, Etuk who was re-deployed to the Ministry from the School to make refunds to them, allegedly collected money which was meant for their exam registration.
He said, "This man collected money which was meant for our examinations. We have not been able to pay for our exam now. And next week we shall start the examinations. We shall do all we can to ensure that he refunds our money.
"He promised to return the money to us last week Thursday but did not. We do not want any delay as we cannot risk missing this exam."
One of the students, Mr. Okon Effiong, said Etuk upon sighting them scampered away with the help of a friend's car.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mr. Esang Bassey, who addressed the students on them to remain calm and not take laws into their hands assuring them that the ministry was working out modalities to get their money returned to them.
PUNCH
