Kogi varsity expels six students, sanctions lecturer over exam malpractice
Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, Kogi State, has expelled six students and initiated disciplinary proceedings against a lecturer over alleged involvement in examination malpractice.
As disclosed in a press statement by the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Uredo Omale, the university’s Senate approved the disciplinary measures at its 167th Regular Meeting held August 26, 2026, after considering the findings of its Examination Misconduct Committee on the incident.
According to Omale, a security report and subsequent investigation established that some students rewrote the BOT102 (Introduction to Plant Science) examination at the private residence of the course lecturer, Dr. Maji Okpanachi, days after the examination had been conducted.
The investigation, she said, was supported by confessional statements from the lecturer and students involved, as well as other available records, while the affected students were found to have paid N10,000 each to rewrite the examination.
Consequently, the Senate approved the expulsion of the six students involved in the examination malpractice and referred Okpanachi to the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee for appropriate action in accordance with the university’s rules and regulations.
In a separate decision, Senate approved the withdrawal of nine students over poor academic performance and failure to comply with the university’s registration requirements.
Reacting to the decisions, the Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of Senate, Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to academic excellence, discipline, integrity and quality assurance, stressing that PAAU would not tolerate conduct capable of undermining the credibility of its academic and examination processes.
Usman commended the committees involved in the investigation and urged staff and students to uphold academic and ethical standards, while the affected students were directed to surrender university property, including identity cards and other official items, to the appropriate authorities before leaving the institution.
