BREAKING: UNIZIK suspends lecturer over exam misconduct as sexual harassment probe continues

The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, has suspended a lecturer in the Department of Chinese Studies, Professor Ifeanyi Sunny Odinye, for three months on half salary over alleged violations of the university’s General and Academic Regulations.

The suspension followed the submission of an interim report by a six-member investigative panel constituted to examine allegations arising from a controversial incident involving Odinye and a female student, which was captured on video and subsequently went viral.

According to the university, the panel found Odinye culpable of failing to properly document and report an alleged examination misconduct case involving the student, Chikamso Favour Okechukwu, and of returning to her the mobile phone reportedly recovered during the examination.

The panel said the lecturer’s actions contravened Sections 5.8.3 and 5.8.1(iv) of the university’s General and Academic Regulations, prompting the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, to approve the three-month suspension based on the panel’s preliminary recommendations.

Okechukwu, who was reportedly involved in the examination misconduct case, has meanwhile been referred to the university’s Student Examination Misconduct Committee for further proceedings, while the university continues its investigation into the wider circumstances surrounding the incident.

The panel, chaired by the Provost of the College of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Emmanuel Obidimma, has deferred consideration of the allegation of sexual harassment against Odinye, saying further investigation is required to establish the facts.

UNIZIK has extended the panel’s tenure by another two weeks to determine whether sexual harassment occurred, establish the identities of those involved in the assault against Odinye, and investigate the allegation of kidnapping linked to the incident.

The university said the panel will submit its final findings and recommendations to the vice-chancellor, after which a final decision, including possible criminal prosecution where appropriate, may be taken, while the administration maintains its commitment to staff and student welfare, transparency, fair hearing and zero tolerance for unethical conduct.