UNIZIK suspends professor stripped over alleged sexual assault

The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, has suspended Professor Ifeanyi Odinye of the Department of Chinese Studies for a period of three months over alleged sexual molestation of a student and contravention of the university’s General and Academic Regulations.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Ugochukwu Anyaehie, approved the suspension of Prof Odinye with half salary in the first instance, following the recommendations of the six- man special investigative panel which submitted its preliminary report on 21st August 2026.

The student involved in the unfortunate incident, Chikamso Favour Okechukwu, according to the directive of the Vice Chancellor, has been referred to the student’s examination misconduct committee

Odinye was physically assaulted and stripped on 15 August by some angry students over an alleged attempt to sexually molest a female student of the university.

A video clip that went viral showed a female student coming out of Odinye’s office with his clothes, claiming that the lecturer attempted to sexually assault her in the office.

She was heard shouting that the lecturer had attempted to rape her, while other people believed to be students were seen pursuing the lecturer who boarded a tricycle that drove out of the premises

The embattled lecturer wore an academic academic gown at the time of the incident after the student left his office with his dress.

The viral video also showed some men hitting the lecturer, who was completely stripped within the university premises, while the female student, who was seen crying after running out of the lecturer’s office.

She was said to have pretended to agree for a sexual encounter until the lecturer had removed his clothes, which she ran away with.

In a statement, the Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Aloysius Attah, said the Vice Chancellor has also extended the duration of the committee for another two weeks to enable the team complete its assignment and address in full, the five – point terms of reference.

Attah said the panel, chaired by Prof. Emmanuel Obidimma, Provost, College of Postgraduate Studies, in the preliminary report, dealt on two issues out of the five for determination and indicted Prof Odinye for contravening Section 5.8.3 of the General and Academic Regulations (GAR) of Nnamdi Azikiwe University by failing to, not only record and submit the case of examination misconduct against Chikamso Favour Okechukwu on the prescribed examination misconduct Report Form, but also gave back the offending phone recovered during the examination to the student on the same day in total disregard to section 5.8.1(iv) of the GAR.

According to him, the other three issues for determination by the committee are to be addressed within the two weeks.

The issues to be determined are whether there was sexual harassment, identify the persons involved in the assault meted to Prof. Odinye and whether there was any incident of kidnapping in the matter.

“The committee members are expected to conclude their findings with recommendations to the Vice Chancellor before a final verdict is initiated, including possible criminal prosecution,” the PRO said.

He added that the Vice Chancellor reiterated the stance of his administration’s prioritization of staff/ student’s welfare and zero tolerance to unethical practices, while upholding the principles of transparency and fair hearing.