(Being the text of a Paper Presented by Ekemini Udim, Esq. to New Students of Akwa Ibom State University as part of Activities Preceding the 2025 Matriculation Ceremony)

It pleases me to be here with you today on the invitation of the Vice Chancellor and Management of this University to have a word or two with the freshers on what they should know about the basic issues of law relating to your stay in this institution as students. I am all the more grateful when I remember that many years ago, I sat like you in the auditorium of the University of Uyo as fresher, to receive lecturers from resource persons on what I was expected to do as a student and what I was expected not to do. I listened carefully and I share this with you as my dear friends that throughout my stay in the University I did not run foul of the rules governing my studentship. I graduated on record time and moved on to the next phase of life. Others ran into trouble and were either expelled or suspended or handed over to the police for prosecution. This shall not be your portion, in Jesus Name.

But it goes beyond the chorusing of ‘’Amen’’ by all of you. It calls for knowledge on your part; knowledge of what to do and what not to do. Knowledge that you are here for a purpose. Knowledge that the law is no respecter of any person. Knowledge that when it comes to criminal liability, your status as a fresher will not count. Knowledge that ignorance of the law is not an excuse from punishment.

This then takes me to the topic for today’s discuss: ‘’Cyber Crime, Cultism, Prevention & Law Enforcement.’’ Cyber-crime and cultism are societal ills that will do you no good. They are evil. None of them will do you any good. Each and every one of these two evils will derail you from your purpose in the University. Each of them will not allow you graduate on time with your mates. What is more, you can be killed in the process of embracing cybercrime and cultism. You have no reason to take shame to your parents at home. You have no reason to bring shame to the name of this University that has opened its doors of admission for you to come in and be trained.

Cultism can be defined as ‘’a ritual practice by a group of people whose membership, admission, policy and initiation formalities as well as their modes of operation are done in secret and kept in secret with their activities having negative effects.’’ Their activities are unorthodox and deviant. Their activities are harmful and can be subjected to legal consequences. Under the laws of Akwa Ibom State where this university operates, cultism is a crime punishable by terms of imprisonment. If you are arrested, charged to court and convicted, your studies in this citadel of learning have automatically taken a nosedive. You would have spent many years in prison while awaiting trial and after conviction, you will be spending more years as a convict. When you come out of jail, you will carry the ignoble toga of being an ex-convict. While in jail, your mates would have passed you by and would have graduated and proceeded to serve in the NYSC and thereafter take up gainful employments in Mobil, Shell, Chevron, leading banks, the academia, ICT, international organisations, civil and public service, and many other institutions.

By the Law establishing this University, signed into law by HE Governor Godswill Akpabio on 29th June, 2009, the Management of this institution have been saddled with the responsibility to make rules for the discipline of students. In exercise of this power, the University has issued the Student Information Handbook which defines what you should do and what you should not do.

The handbook also sets up Students’ Disciplinary Committee with a mandate to adjudicate on reports made against students. Be it known today that, any student who is taken before the Disciplinary Committee on allegation of involvement in cultism and who is found to be culpable will be recommended to the Vice Chancellor to expulsion. Cultism is at cross purpose with the aims and objective of the setting up a University. It is at variance with your matriculation oath and you cannot be allowed to remain here. You need to be shown the way out and, cultism being an offence against the state, Management has an added responsibility to hand you over to the law enforcement agencies for prosecution. Dear freshers, this is not why your parents sent you to this institution. Never you involve yourself in cultism. It does you no good. Avoid it like a plague.

You must also avoid examination malpractice. This another crime that will truncate your studies. It refers to dishonest and unethical behaviour during an examination to gain an unfair advantage. It leads to expulsion and can also expose you to criminal prosecution by the police and by the office of the Attorney General. Study hard and avoid examination malpractice.

The second demon that has derailed many students from purpose in many years now, is the cybercrime. This one is like cancer; it comes in many layers and has spread so fast. It comes in the forms and dimensions. The law defines is as ‘’the use of computers as an instrument to further illegal ends.’’ It has such predicates like, computer fraud, stealing of identities, cyber-bullying, stealing of money online from people’s bank accounts. It is what Nigerians have summed up to describe as ‘’Yahoo Yahoo Business’’ and the practitioners described as ‘’Yahoo Boys.’’

You have to avoid, the yahoo kingdom. It is a kingdom of darkness that will dim your light as young adults and eventually land you in trouble. By the provisions of the Cybercrimes Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, cybercrimes have all been criminalised with terms of imprisonment provided. In some of these offences, there is no option for fine. You must serve the prison term fixed by the law. Several students have so far been arrested in many institutions across Nigeria on allegation of commission of cybercrimes. The embarrassment that follows is something you cannot imagine. Note that when your name is published for involvement in cybercrimes, the internet will not forget it. This is a barrier to your future opportunities. You need to avoid it. Just be a student at this stage in your life. Do not be in competition with anyone. As a student, you are not expected to live the life of a long-standing businessman. Be modest and be contented with what your parents and guardians give to you. A bright future is in front of you. Do not mortgage it today.

Note that cybercrime has also been defined to include, criminal defamation of the character of another on social media. This calls for caution on your part as students with android phones. Resist the temptation of making false publication against the management of the University or against your lecturers, fellow students and friends generally. Cyberstalking, cyberbullying and the likes are criminal actions which will land you in trouble and can also land you in jail. Avoid all these and live a responsible life on campus and off campus. One of ways to prevents these ills, it to choose your friends wisely, and to have a culture of decency as an adult. Be responsible at all times.

I have also been asked to discuss: ‘’Sports, Games, Unionism, Activism, Clubs, Associations & Attitude Towards University Property.’’ For want of time, I will say a few words here. Exercise is good for the human body and as students, you are encouraged to exercise from time to time so as to remain fit. But you have to do this responsibly. It will be irresponsible to come to class straight from the gym with the cloths you wore to the gym. Manage your time well, go home, freshen up, change up and come to class refreshed. Do not engage in sports and games to the detriment of your education. As for unionism, you have the right in law to belong to the Students’ Union Government which is an authorised forum for students. But do not allow unionism to derail you from your studies. Unionism is not also a licence for you to rain insults and abuses on your lecturers, and management of fellow students.

You can also belong to clubs and associations. This is where your LG Associations will come in. you can meet to discuss your peculiar issues. But you must do so with responsibility. The constitution of Nigeria allows for the enjoyment of the right to freedom of association and the university has recognised this right for many years.as regards the properties of the university, you have a duty to take good care of them and live them in good state for the next set of students. Note that any student who wilfully or maliciously damages the asset of the university can be handed over the civil authority for prosecution in a court of law for malicious damage to property. Be kind and nice to the properties you have come to see. Use them as your own. Make the university your family.

May I end by thanking you all for your kind attention.

Ekemini Udim is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He holds a first degree in Law (LL.B) from the University of Uyo and also holds a master’s degree in Law (LL.M) from the Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom. He is the Senior Partner of Justice Chambers, Uyo. He was called to Bar in 2010 and has done cases in all strata of courts up to the Supreme Court.