The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Owerri, FUTO, Prof. Nnenna Oti, says the university management has decided to drag Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to court over its rejection of Dr. Isah Ali-Pantami’s promotion to the rank of a professor.

ASUU had threatened to sanction FUTO management for approving Mr Pantami as a professor while he is still in Federal Government’s active service as a minister.

But while speaking with The Nation on Monday, the vice-chancellor said that the management are already in court over the matter.

Meanwhile, a senior management worker at the university, who spoke in confidence, told the media outlet that ASUU has no right to dabble into a matter it has no jurisdiction over.

“Just like ASUU does not tell the university council and its Senate who to promote, it cannot tell them the criteria for promoting somebody to rank of professor.

“In law, you cannot withdraw what you don’t have. ASUU does not regulate appointments and promotions.

“Some of these things are derived from NUC guidelines, and every university sets up its standard,” the source said.