UNIZIK suspends professor over alleged sexual misconduct

The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, has suspended a professor in the Department of Chinese Studies, Ifeanyi Odinye, following allegations of misconduct.

The suspension came days after the lecturer was physically assaulted and stripped by some students following an alleged attempt to sexually molest a female student.

The university’s spokesman, Aloysius Attah, disclosed the suspension in a statement on Monday.

According to him, the Vice-Chancellor, Ugochukwu Anyaehie, approved Odinye’s three-month suspension with half salary, following the recommendations of a six-member Special Investigative Panel.

The panel, chaired by the Provost of the College of Postgraduate Studies, Emmanuel Obidimma, submitted its preliminary report on Friday, August 21.

Attah said the panel investigated five allegations against the professor but addressed two in its preliminary report.

According to the report, Odinye was indicted for violating Section 5.8.3 of the General and Academic Regulations by failing to properly document and submit a case of examination misconduct involving Chikamso Favour Okechukwu.

The panel also found that the professor returned to Okechukwu an offending phone recovered during the examination on the same day, allegedly in disregard of Section 5.8.1(iv) of the regulations.

Attah said Okechukwu had been referred to the university’s Examination Misconduct Committee in line with the directive of the Vice-Chancellor.

The student is also at the centre of the alleged sexual molestation incident that led to the assault of Odinye by some students on August 15.

The university spokesman said management had mandated the committee to investigate three other issues involving the professor.

These include determining whether sexual harassment occurred, identifying those involved in the assault on Odinye and establishing whether there was any incident of kidnapping connected to the matter.

“The committee members are expected to conclude their findings with recommendations to the vice-chancellor before a final verdict, including possible criminal prosecution, is initiated,” Attah said.

He said the Vice-Chancellor had reiterated his administration’s commitment to staff and student welfare, as well as its zero-tolerance policy towards “unethical practices”, while upholding transparency and fair hearing.

The professor was assaulted and stripped on August 15 after some students allegedly confronted him over an attempted sexual assault involving a female student.

A video clip from the incident showed the student leaving the lecturer’s office with his clothes and alleging that the professor had attempted to sexually assault her.

The student was heard shouting that the lecturer had attempted to rape her, prompting some unidentified men, believed to be students, to pursue Odinye after he reportedly boarded a tricycle and left the premises.

The lecturer was seen wearing only his academic gown, apparently after the student left his office with his clothes.

Another part of the video showed several men hitting and stomping on the lecturer before he was completely stripped within the university premises.

The university has yet to make a final determination on the sexual assault allegation, as the investigative committee is expected to examine the matter and submit its recommendations.