Public Disclaimer and Notice

Following the termination of the tenure of the former Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Qrisstuberg Msughter Amua, the Government of Benue State, through the Honourable Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, formally directed him to hand over the affairs of the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, including official responsibilities, records, files, documents, assets, financial records, ongoing projects, contracts and other matters relating to the administration of the University.

The University is presently under the leadership of Professor Leonard Karshima Shilgba, PhD, Vice-Chancellor, pursuant to the directive of the Visitor to the University, His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia.

The University has not received all University property, assets, records, documents, and other official materials that ought to have been transferred to the current administration.

Following earlier directives, the Honourable Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management issued a Last Warning and Final Directive dated 8 September 2026, requiring the former Vice-Chancellor to hand over, within forty-eight (48) hours, all University property, assets, and official materials in his possession. The directive further stated that failure to comply could result in administrative or legal measures to recover University property.

Among the University property and materials identified for recovery are:

• Toyota Hilux vehicle
• Toyota 14-seater bus
• University generator
• University office furniture
• Academic ceremonial gowns
• First-semester examination scripts and related examination records

These items are University property and/or official University records and are required for the effective discharge of the University's institutional responsibilities.

The University particularly wishes to inform students, parents, and the general public that certain examination scripts and related academic records from the University's maiden first-semester examinations remain outside the effective custody of the present administration.

This has affected the University's ability to complete the processing, verification, and release of certain student results.

The University is pursuing all lawful means available to recover the outstanding examination materials and restore them to proper institutional custody.

The University is also responding to enquiries by the House of Representatives Committee on Student Loans, Scholarships and Higher Education Financing concerning the implementation of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) student-loan scheme at UAST.

The University has assured the Committee of its full cooperation and has undertaken to provide all information and records lawfully within its custody. However, certain records relating to transactions undertaken during the tenure of the former Vice-Chancellor are not presently in the custody of the current administration.

Accordingly, the present administration will not authenticate, certify, endorse, or assume responsibility for records, transactions, financial commitments, or representations which it has not received through a proper institutional handover or which it cannot independently verify from official University records.

The University has also informed the Committee that the former Vice-Chancellor, who was in office when the relevant NELFUND transactions occurred, is a material person in relation to the Committee's fact-finding inquiry.

UAST hereby DISCLAIMS responsibility for any transaction, financial commitment, contract, agreement, undertaking, payment instruction, collection of money, procurement arrangement, employment representation, admission-related transaction, academic representation, partnership arrangement or other business purportedly undertaken in the name of the University by any person who does not have demonstrable authority from the current University administration.

No person should therefore assume that an individual is authorised to represent or bind UAST merely because that individual previously occupied an official position in the University.

All students, parents, staff, contractors, vendors, development partners, financial institutions, and members of the public are strongly advised to:

• VERIFY the identity and authority of any person claiming to act for UAST;
• VERIFY all payment instructions before making any payment in the name of the University;
• VERIFY all contracts, agreements, procurement arrangements, and other commitments purportedly made on behalf of UAST; and
• OBTAIN WRITTEN CONFIRMATION from the appropriate current University authority whenever there is any doubt concerning the authenticity or validity of a transaction or representation.

DO NOT rely solely on verbal representations, previous official positions, unofficial correspondence, personal accounts, telephone instructions, or third-party assurances when entering transactions purportedly involving UAST.

For the avoidance of doubt, official University business shall be conducted only through the current authorised structures and officers of the University, including the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Bursar, and other duly authorised officers, as applicable.

Where any person seeks to enter into a transaction or commitment on behalf of UAST, such authority must be capable of verification through the appropriate University office.

Contact the University to verify a representation or transaction.

This Disclaimer is issued strictly for the protection of the University and the public and for the preservation of the integrity of the University's records, assets, and official transactions.

It does not constitute a determination of criminal or civil liability against any person. Any allegation, petition, complaint, or matter concerning previous University administration remains subject to appropriate investigation and due process.

The University will continue to cooperate with competent government authorities, oversight bodies and lawful investigative agencies in matters relating to the recovery, verification, and reconciliation of University property, records, and transactions.