By Iduh Onah & Amos Aar
A STORM of outrage has erupted over the nomination of Dr Timothy Yangien Ornguga, an Associate Professor of Law at the Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi (MOAUM), as a commissioner in Benue State.
Both former and current students of Dr. Ornguga have coalesced into a strong advocacy group against him with claims bothering on psychological abuse, vindictive grading or undue obsession with failing students, as well as sadistic or cruel behaviour.
The uproar – a petition from the Community of Tiv Students Worldwide (CTS Worldwide), a Change.org petition by the LL.B Class of 2015 Forum and harrowing Facebook posts and comments – portray Ornguga as an academic who wielded his authority like a ‘sadistic weapon.’
In the petitions and Facebook posts, the alleged victims gave narratives that describe Ornguga’s classes as psychological battlegrounds where failure was a foregone conclusion for students who dared cross him or simply couldn’t spell out his full name.
The petitioners urged Speaker Aondona Dajoh and the Benue State House of Assembly to “step down” Ornguga’s nomination, conduct an independent investigation into his conduct as a lecturer as well as a psychological evaluation to assess his fitness for public office arguing that leadership “should uplift, not traumatize.”
In a bid to get his response to the allegations in the petitions and Facebook, National Record first called the academic but his number did not go through. This reporter thereafter sent an enquiry message via sms and WhatsApp to Dr Ornguga. When he didn’t respond after over two hours, he was again called and this time the call went through (at about 9:58 and when he picked, this reporter told him of the sms and WhatsApp message. He said he was going to read and revert.
However, as at press time, Dr. Ornguga neither called back nor responded to the enquiry, although it clearly indicated that he had read it.
The Petition from CTS Worldwide
In its petition, CTS Worldwide drew Benue State House of Assembly to what it described as “a matter of urgent Public concern”.
According to the petition, entitled“PETITION ON THE CHARACTER AND PERSON OF DR. TIMOTHY YANGIEN ORNGUGAa, COMMISSIONER NOMINEE BENUE STATE”, dated August 1, 2025 and signed by Zaki Christian Aondongu, National President, and Fefa Gabriel Terfa, Secretary General, Law students of MOAUM had on 20th March written a letter addressed to the President of CTS Worldwide and expressed their sad encounters with Ornguga as a lecturer teaching ‘Law of Evidence’ at MOAUM.
“Such experiences bothered significantly on use of indiscriminate language in communication, inappropriate allocation of unmerited scores to students of his choice and unjustifiable failing of usually over 70 percent attendant members of his class in a deliberate and calculated pattern aimed to victimise and justify his widely known wickedness as a lecturer.
“Upon receipt of the letter, I copied same to the then Honourable Commissioner for Education and Vice Chancellor of the University accordingly.
“A further review of our investigations also reviewed [sic] that some Law Students have been unable to graduate from the university for over 3-5 years depending on the Greek-mercy of Dr. TY Ornuguga after completing their academic requirements in all other courses. (Such students are available for testimony and evidence)”.
According to the petition, while CTS Worldwide did not receive any feedback from the Commissioner and Vice Chancellor, the students who complained cried back and demanded to withdraw their allegations on the premise that their tormentor had been informed of their report and had threatened them to retract the complaint “or suffer harder repercussions.”
Noting that in their helplessness “in the unmerciful hands of Dr TY Ornguga’s decision”, CTS Worldwide said they read in the media about his nomination as a Commissioner.
“This petition is therefore premised on our believe that such a man who clearly lacks empathy, professional conduct and derives joy in victimising Students under his tutelage lacks the outright compassion needed for public service and would clearly not be able to deliver on the vision of His Excellency Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormen Alia PhD.
“It is our conviction that you would kindly use the authority of your office to investigate the activities of Dr TY Ornguga as lecturer of the Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, cause him to rescind his decisions currently keeping many Law Students of the university under his hostage and at your discretion determine if he is worthy of public service,” CTS Worldwide concluded, praying the lawmakers that they are “available to offer every information needed for [their] investigation and necessary actions.”
The Change.org Petition
Launched by the LL.B Class of 2015 Forum of Benue State University (now MOAUM) on Friday afternoon following the release of the list of eight commissioner nominees with Ornguga’s name, the Change.org petition, got magnetic traction lighting up Facebook like petrol fire. The petition grossed hundreds of signatories peaking at 571 as at press time.
A digital copy of the petition, in PDF, is addressed to the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, but signed by 12 of the LL.B Class of 2015 Forum members on behalf of the online signatories, accuses Dr. Ornguga of fostering a toxic academic environment for law students, including humiliating them and boasting about failing them.
Pointing out that the “people of Benue State stand to be directly impacted by this appointment”, the petitioners alleged that if cleared as a commissioner, “Civil servants, legal professionals, students, and every citizen who depends on compassionate, ethical leadership will suffer if someone with a record of documented cruelty is placed in authority.”
The LL.B 2015 Class Forum also noted: “As a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Benue State University, Dr. Ornguga routinely subjected students to degrading treatment. He administered frivolous assessments meant to humiliate rather than educate. One example involved asking students of our class to spell his full name, including “Yangien,” his Tiv middle name, which many non-Tiv students did not know. Those who failed this cultural trick were penalized not for academic failure but for unfamiliarity with his name. This is discriminatory and abusive.
Asserting further, the former students alleged: “Dr. Ornguga’s approach as a lecturer was damaging and discouraging to us. He would predetermine students’ failure, humiliate us in class, and even order students out of his class, solely based on personal dislike. This behavior has left a lasting negative impact on many of us, particularly given the fact that his course was compulsory nature.
“Even more disturbing, he publicly boasted about giving a student an “F,” stating that he looked forward to students failing his courses and shared this pleasure with his spouse. These statements were made without remorse and in front of entire classes, causing emotional distress. This is not an isolated remark; many students can attest to his open delight in academic punishment and power abuse. His attitude created a climate of fear, anxiety, and despair.
“This pattern of conduct goes beyond poor teaching; it constitutes psychological maltreatment, discriminatory academic practices, and emotional abuse, which we are still battling with till date. All these, in our estimation contradict the values of education and public service.”
According to the petition, what is at stake is the credibility of public leadership in Benue State, just as it claims that’s it is also about ensuring that public offices are not handed over to individuals with histories of intimidation, cruelty, and a blatant disregard for human dignity.
Stressing that the protest against the nomination of Ornguga is not political, the petitioners alleged that his “…nomination is not merely inappropriate; it is dangerous. Dr. Ornguga has displayed behavior that is egregiously unfit for public leadership. He has shown contempt for students, abused his position of authority, and demonstrated no capacity for empathy or reform. If appointed to lead a ministry, especially one involving justice or education, he could extend these toxic patterns into the civil service, potentially terrorizing subordinates and mismanaging critical state responsibilities.
“His behavior is not just unprofessional, it is antithetical to every principle of public accountability, human dignity, and administrative integrity.”
The former students also offered legal or constitutional basis to support their advocacy for the House of Assembly to turn down Orguga’s nomination.
“Under Section 192(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Benue State House of Assembly has the constitutional duty to vet and confirm commissioner nominees not only based on their academic or professional credentials but also on their character and fitness to hold public office. A pattern of abusive conduct, even within an academic setting, raises legitimate and serious concerns about a nominee’s capacity to function within a democratic, people-focused, and service-oriented government.
“Furthermore, the Benue State Public Service Rules require all public officers to demonstrate conduct that upholds dignity, respect, discipline, and professionalism; qualities that Dr. Ornguga has consistently been adjudged as lacking in his professional dealings.
“Repeated testimonies from former students and colleagues suggest a disturbing disregard for ethical behavior, emotional intelligence, and responsible use of authority.
“To confirm such a nominee in the face of overwhelming public concern would be a dereliction of constitutional duty and an endorsement of conduct that is fundamentally incompatible with good governance,” Ornguga’s former students stressed.
Citing a 2016 case in Kaduna State where a nominee was withdrawn over similar allegations, the petitioners canvassed the state legislature to “treat this nomination with the seriousness and scrutiny it demands.”
Further pleading to lawmakers to do the right thing, the petitioners exalted: “Previous failures to listen to public outcry have led to regrettable appointments. We cannot afford a repeat. The Honourable Assembly has a duty to uphold both public confidence and institutional integrity.
“We urge the immediate suspension of Dr. Ornguga’s confirmation and recommend that an independent, professional committee be constituted to evaluate his psychological fitness for public office and indeed his continued service in academic institutions. Anyone who publicly boasts of inflicting emotional harm on students and finds joy in their failure is unfit to hold any form of public trust.
“This petition is not driven by politics, ethnicity, or sentiment. It is driven by principle, ethics, and the safety of citizens who may come under his authority. Leadership must be earned through character and capacity, not through coercion, fear, or unchecked ego.”
Social Media Blitz
On social media, the rage against Ornguga’s nomination is wilder, with posts graphically depicting Ornguga as a sadistic lecturer who really derives pleasure from humiliating his students rather than mentoring them.
Kamo Sende, a former student of the Faculty of Law, in his fairly lengthy post that drew 657 comments and 52 shares as at press time; gave a vivid insight on Ornguga as a tormentor when he stated: “Of the Commissioner nominees published by the CPS to Governor Alia, I know the Associate Professor of Law, Dr Timothy Yangien Ornguga. Ornguga was my lecturer at BSU where he taught me the Law of Evidence.
“In one of Dr Ornguga’s classes, he came in and asked us to take an assessment – the task was simply to write his full name. I have never forgotten the excitement with which he shared that many people had failed because they did not know how to spell his Tiv name “Yangien”.
“Imagine a Law student, especially those who weren’t Tiv, failing the Law of Evidence assessment because they cannot spell “Yangien” (Most people called him Timothy Ornguga or just Ornguga as few knew his Tiv name).
“In another class, after assuring one of our classmates of an “F” and a spill over for his course, Dr Ornguga told us how he enjoyed failing students and how he shared such news with his spouse. It was discouraging – traumatic even, to attend Dr Ornguga’s classes. To this day, I carry deep reservations about his approach to teaching and human interactions.
“Most of us who went through the Law faculty at BSU have similar experiences with lecturers like the learned Associate Prof.
“Dr Ornguga has now been nominated as commissioner for Benue state. Having experienced his methods as his student, I wonder what his leadership style will be in public service. If he brings the same energy he had in the classroom, may God have mercy on the staff of whatever ministry he heads – and if he makes AG [Attorney General], those who moved from his classroom to the Ministry of Justice might just have to brace themselves for another challenging experience – if he is still the same person.
“The universe has a sense of humour.”
Many of the over 657 reactions that followed Sende’s post on Saturday morning also expressed varying dimensions of their unpalatable experience of Ornguga.
One commentator,Jonathan Agoon, quoted Ornguga to have stated at a lecture: “If I don’t like your face, you fail automatically. It is not by your efforts, I decide who passes and who fails…”, while another; Vershima Orvell-Diô, counselled: “I think more universities in Nigeria, including BSU should join what few universities are doing; anonymous assessment of lecturers by the students.”
For Manasseh Iorchir, who was not a student of Ornguga, his post states: “If the governor really wants him there, and if the House of Assembly agrees with the executive, they will do “Nigerian magic” on the day of his screening. They will block and disregard all dissenting voices and make this fellow the commissioner that the governor wants him to be. I don’t know him and so I can neither confirm nor comment on his character or suitability. But I have seen enough of contemporary Benue politics to guess what would happen on the day he would be screened. Optimism struggles to stay alive here.”
In his post, Bobby Tavershima Bem said: “With all these, Dr. T.Y Ornguga kept getting promotion from the university community and I really want to congratulations Senior T.Y for the…”
According to a post by Tyungu Philip; “The most wicked man I’ve ever come across. Certainly, he made the list because of his brother being the Tor Tiv.
“During his brother’s reign as the Dean of Management Science, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka [University, Makurdi], the Dean brought this man to teach us Business Law. Apart from walking out of the class countless times, he told us the best student could manage a C.
“We had a class of over 1200 students occupying a hall meant for 400 students. This man would walk out of the class, claiming that the class was disorganized and noisy, and I remember he called us a bunch of fools on a couple of occasions.
“I don’t know the criteria used for the selection, but this will certainly be the worst commissioner ever nominated in Benue State. He will not be approachable because he feels he knows all. I wept for Benue.”
While posting a comment regarding the Change.Org petition, Sende further stated: “The Law class of 2015 has now commenced a Petition to the Benue State House of Assembly under Speaker Aondona Dajoh to step down the nomination of Associate Prof. Timothy Yangien Ornguga as commissioner designate in Benue State.
“I have signed the petition as someone who experienced Dr. Ornguga’s teaching firsthand and as one who knows how damaging his approach can be. Leadership should uplift, not traumatize. I am signing this petition because I believe public office must be reserved for those who lead with integrity, empathy, and respect for others. Benue deserves better.”
Pro-Ornguga emerges
In the face of the two petitions and virile Facebook posts, a counter-force also emerged, throwing its weight behind embattled Ornguga.
James Atsam, a strong supporter of Governor Hyacinth Alia, who claims he knows Dr. Ornguga as a landlord rather than a lecturer, described him in a Facebook post as “soft” and “calm.”
Similarly, former PDP Publicity Secretary of in Benue State, Bemgba Iortyom, himself a fresh graduate of MOAUM’s Faculty of Law, posted a letter on Facebook praising Ornguga’s “upright” character and urging lawmakers to confirm him.
The letter, posted by Iortyom, states: “MOAUM CLASS OF 2023 WILL INITIATE PETITION IN SUPPORT OF ASST. PROF. Timothy Yangien Ornguga
“We have seen an online public petition by the Law Class of 2015 of the Moses Adasu University, Makurdi (MOAUM) published by Kamo Sende which stated intent and purpose is to cause the removal of Associate Professor of Law at the Faculty, Timothy Yangien Ornguga from the list of Commissionership nominees sent to the Benue State House of Assembly by Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia.
“In response, members of the Law Class of 2023 will initiate a counter petition to push through the factual narrative that Asst. Prof. Ornguga is an upright man whose career as a Lecturer at the prestigious Faculty stands unblemished and is unsullied by any record of corruption or professional misconduct.
“We will challenge those initiating complaints against him to give reason why their actions should not be seen as stemming from personal reasons which have little or no bearing on his qualification or capacity to serve the public with uncommon intergrity [sic] and productivity.
“It will be our further contention that the erudite Learned Associate Professor Timothy Yangien Ornguga is a rare quality in public service whose reformative inclinations should be harnessed for the larger public good”.
Assembly To Screen Nominees Soon
Meanwhile, the House Committee on Appointments is expected to begin the screening of nominees next week.
Committee sources, speaking to National Record in confidence, confirmed that the Committee has received multiple petitions for and against Ornguga and will “interrogate the allegations.”
Our sources within the ruling party in the state, APC, and in opposition PDP, while claiming to study the allegations, however posited that the uproar is bound to test Governor Alia’s promise of a “reform-driven cabinet.”
Fears of Executive Stampede on Assembly
While nobody may be able to predict the final outcome in the battle between Ornguga and his students, veteran politicians believe Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, is likely to stampede the lawmakers into endorsing Dr Ornguga.
Those who hold this view point to two recent examples since the governor assumed office May 2023. According to our source, a member of the ruling party who however pleaded anonymity, the petitions and protests are likely to be ineffective as Governor Alia will go ahead and appoint Dr Ornguga.
The source pointed to recent history when the governor nominated Dr Aõndona Mkor for appointment as his adviser, Mkor received similar criticisms from the public, including his students at MOAUM over allegations of serial rape cases for which he was sacked as a lecturer.
Although Mkor challenged the university’s decision in the court, but he lost. “That’s why he is no longer a lecturer today. But Alia went ahead and appointed him. Today, it’s the same behavious that has landed Mkor into EFCC probe and he has been suspended by the same governor,” our source stated, a fact that National Record reported.
The politician also noted that, in a similar way, “when Governor Alia nominated Dr Vincent Gisaor as BSIEC [Benue State Independent Electoral Commission] chairman, the State Assembly disapproved of it, following public criticisms that he lacked good manners. They pointed out an instance where Gisaor insulted the entire Tiv tribe, saying in Tiv language: “ka ikpyongu tswar i Tiv”, meaning: “it’s the anus (nyash) of the Tiv people”. According to the veteran politician, this is one of the worst insults in Tiv language and among the Tivs. National Record also reported this too.
Like the first time, he said Alia went ahead and appointed Gisaor into that same position. “So, will this time be different?” our source asked rhetorically, concluding with certainty that nobody, including the Speaker and the lawmakers, except Alia, knows what the outcome of the petitions and allegations will be.
