The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, has suspended a lecturer in the Department of Chinese Studies, Prof. Ifeanyi Sunny Odinye, for three months over alleged $3xual misconduct and contravention of the university’s General and Academic Regulations.
The suspension comes about two weeks after a video showing Odinye being physically a$$aulted by some students went viral. He was allegedly attacked following claims that he attempted to take advantage of a female student whom he had previously caught in an alleged examination malpractice case.
In a statement released on Monday, August 24, the university’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Aloysius Attah, said the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bond Anyaehie, approved the suspension following recommendations contained in the preliminary report of a six-member Special Investigative Panel.
The university also referred the student involved, Chikamso Favour Okechukwu, to the Students’ Examination Misconduct Committee for further investigation.
According to the institution, the panel found Odinye to have vi0lated university regulations by failing to properly document the alleged examination misconduct and by returning a mobile phone recovered from the student during the examination on the same day.
The university said three other issues remain under investigation, including whether $3xual har$$sment occurred, the identities of those involved in the a$$ault against Odinye, and whether there was any incident of k!dnapping.
The statement reads in part:
> “The Panel, Chaired by Prof. Emmanuel Obidimma, Provost, College of Postgraduate Studies, in their preliminary report which dealt on two issues out of the five for determination, indicted Prof Odinye for contravening Section 5.8.3 of the General and Academic Regulations (GAR) of Nnamdi Azikiwe University by failing to not only record and submit the case of examination misconduct against Chikamso Favour Okechukwu on the prescribed Examination Misconduct Report Form but also gave back the offending phone recovered during the examination to the student on the same day in total disregard to section 5.8.1(iv) of the GAR.
> Other three issues for determination by the committee which shall be addressed within the two weeks extended time frame included “whether there was $3xu@l hara$$ment, identities of the persons involved in the ass@ult meted to Prof. Odinye and whether there was any incident of k!dnapping in 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.
> The Vice Chancellor reiterates the stance of his administration’s priotisation of staff/ student’s welfare and zero tolerance to unethical practices while upholding the principles of transparency and fair hearing.”
The university said the final report will be submitted to the Vice Chancellor after the additional two-week investigation period, after which further disciplinary action or possible cr!minal prosecution may be considered.