Ukorebi Esien | August 23, 2026
CALABAR — The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Offiong Offiong, has been accused of defying a subsisting Federal High Court injunction after university security personnel again prevented worshippers from accessing the University of Calabar Chapel of Redemption for Sunday service.
The development occurred on Sunday, August 23, 2026, barely three days after the Federal High Court reportedly sustained its earlier injunction restraining the Vice-Chancellor and other parties from interfering with the affairs and activities of the Chapel.
The court had initially issued the injunction on August 4, directing the parties to maintain the status quo and restraining interference with the Chapel and its activities. The matter came up again on August 20, when the injunction was reportedly reinforced, with the case adjourned to September 2 for arguments on the substantive application.
Despite the order, armed university security personnel reportedly prevented members of the Chapel from entering the premises on Sunday.
According to the worshippers, the security personnel said they were acting on the directive of the Vice-Chancellor and ordered them to leave the university premises.
The worshippers subsequently relocated their service to a nearby street, where they continued with their worship.
The incident is the second reported disruption of the Chapel's Sunday worship in recent weeks. On August 16, worshippers were similarly denied access to the Chapel and were forced to hold an open-air service around the Fire Service Park within the university environment.
The latest development has further escalated the already protracted leadership crisis rocking the Chapel of Redemption, with the legality of the university administration's intervention now forming a major point of contention.
The crisis began after Prof. Offiong reportedly removed Rev. Joseph Ushie as Chaplain of the Chapel, evicted him from his university accommodation and appointed Rev. Israel Eyo as interim Chaplain.
The Vice-Chancellor also reportedly suspended Prof. Essien Oku, Chairman of the Chapel Council, dissolved the Council and constituted a caretaker committee to oversee the affairs of the church.
These actions have been challenged by members of the Chapel, who argue that the Vice-Chancellor lacks the legal authority to unilaterally determine the leadership and internal administration of the Chapel.
Counsel to Rev. Ushie, Mba Ukweni, SAN, has argued before the court that the Vice-Chancellor lacks the statutory authority under the University of Calabar Act to administer or control the Chapel.
The Chapel's position is that it is a separate legal entity from the University of Calabar, with its own governing structures, constitution and management.
The latest confrontation has therefore raised a fundamental question over the extent of the Vice-Chancellor's authority over the Chapel and whether the university administration can lawfully prevent its members from accessing the church premises.
Adding another dimension to Sunday's incident, the university security personnel reportedly told the worshippers that they could lose their jobs if they failed to enforce the directive to prevent the service from holding.
After the worshippers relocated outside the Chapel, university authorities allegedly informed the Cross River State Police Command that the group had barricaded the university entrance.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, DCP Godwin Etim, subsequently arrived at the scene with police personnel.
However, after assessing the situation, the police reportedly found that the worshippers had not barricaded the university entrance as alleged and left the area.
Speaking on the development, Mr Imo Nse, Secretary of the Chapel Council, said members were disappointed that the court's injunction had not translated into freedom to worship within the Chapel.
"We remain committed to obeying the law, our only demand is freedom to worship while this matter remains before the court," he said.
The latest incident is expected to further intensify scrutiny of the University's handling of the Chapel dispute, particularly as the substantive matter remains before the Federal High Court.
For the worshippers, the central issue is no longer merely who occupies the position of Chaplain, but whether the university administration has the legal authority to determine the affairs of a church they maintain operates as a separate legal entity.
The court is expected to hear arguments on the substantive application when the matter returns on September 2, 2026.
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