The Senate of Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Katsina State, under the distinguished chairmanship of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Khalid Othman, has unanimously approved the immediate rustication of twenty (20) students found culpable of various acts of examination misconduct during the examinations conducted in the First Semester of the 2025/2026 Academic Session.
This decisive action was ratified during the 138th Regular Meeting of the University Senate, convened on Wednesday, 11th March 2026, at the Twin-Theatre Hall, Main Campus, Dutsin-Ma. The verdict followed a thorough, evidence-based presentation and deliberation on the comprehensive report submitted by the Students’ Disciplinary Committee (SDC), which meticulously investigated the allegations leveled against the affected students.
In pronouncing the Senate’s approval, Professor Mohammed Khalid Othman affirmed that the sanction is fully compliant with Section 13.3, subsection 13.3(c) of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma Policy on Examination Irregularity and Academic Misconduct. He reiterated that such measures are essential to preserving the sanctity, credibility, and global recognition of degrees awarded by the institution.
Commitment to Due Process and Natural Justice
The Vice-Chancellor commended the Students’ Disciplinary Committee—comprising senior academics, administrators, and student representatives—for conducting the investigations with unwavering dedication to fairness, transparency, and procedural integrity. Every accused student was duly invited, granted a full and fair hearing, afforded the opportunity to present defenses, call witnesses (where applicable), and respond to all evidence tendered against them. This adherence to the principles of natural justice (audi alteram partem and nemo judex in causa sua) underscores FUDMA’s resolve to balance firmness with equity in disciplinary matters.
Rationale and Strategic Objectives of the Sanction
The rustication serves multiple critical purposes aligned with the university’s core mission:
- Upholding Academic Integrity — To send an unequivocal message that FUDMA will not tolerate any compromise on honesty, diligence, and ethical conduct in academic assessments.
- Deterrence — To strongly discourage current and prospective students from engaging in or contemplating acts of malpractice that undermine the value of hard-earned qualifications.
- Safeguarding Institutional Reputation — To reinforce FUDMA’s standing as a reputable federal university producing graduates of unassailable character and competence, worthy of trust by employers, professional bodies, and society at large.
- Promoting a Culture of Excellence — To foster an environment where merit, perseverance, and genuine scholarship are the only pathways to success.
Nature and Scope of the Rustication
The affected students are hereby rusticated with immediate effect from the Second Semester of the 2025/2026 Academic Session. During the period of rustication (the exact duration for each case having been specified in the Senate resolution), they are strictly prohibited from:
- Participating in any lectures, tutorials, practical sessions, or academic exercises.
- Sitting for any examinations, tests, or continuous assessments.
- Accessing university libraries, laboratories, hostels, or other campus facilities.
- Engaging in any official university activities or representing the institution in any capacity.
Upon completion of the rustication period, affected students may be required to apply for re-admission or reinstatement subject to Senate approval and fulfillment of any additional conditions imposed.
Forms of Misconduct Involved
The infractions, as established by the Disciplinary Committee, included but were not limited to: cheating during examinations, unauthorized possession or use of extraneous materials, collusion with others, impersonation, leakage of examination questions, forgery of documents, and other related irregularities that violate the university’s examination regulations.
Message to the Entire Student Community
Professor Mohammed Khalid Othman used the occasion to address the broader student body directly:
“Academic success built on dishonesty is illusory and ultimately self-destructive. We urge every student to embrace the virtues of integrity, hard work, and ethical responsibility. FUDMA remains steadfast in providing a supportive, enabling environment for genuine learning while enforcing zero tolerance for any conduct that erodes the foundation of our academic enterprise.”
The university management reaffirms its commitment to continuous sensitization on examination ethics, enhanced invigilation protocols, deployment of technology to curb malpractice, and support systems (including counseling and academic advising) to help students succeed legitimately.
Communication and Documentation
The full list of rusticated students—including their matriculation numbers, names, departments/faculties, and specific periods of rustication—has been formally communicated to all relevant Deans, Heads of Departments, Faculty Officers, the Examinations and Records Unit, Security Services, and other key administrative offices for strict enforcement. Copies have also been archived in the Office of the Registrar for official records.
Source: Office of the Registrar, Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State. Issued on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor and Senate.
FUDMA calls on parents, guardians, sponsors, and all stakeholders to support this institutional stance by guiding students toward honorable academic conduct. The university remains dedicated to producing graduates who are not only knowledgeable and skilled but also morally upright and trustworthy—true ambassadors of excellence in service to Nigeria and humanity.
