By Elvira Jordan
The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, has placed a lecturer in the Department of Chinese Studies, Prof. Ifeanyi Sunny Odinye, on a three-month suspension over allegations of examination misconduct.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bond Anyaehie, approved the sanction following recommendations outlined in a preliminary report submitted last Friday by a six-member Special Investigative Panel.
According to a statement by the university’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Aloysius Attah, the panel—chaired by the Provost of the College of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Emmanuel Obidimma—has so far addressed two out of its five terms of reference.
The report established that Prof. Odinye breached Section 5.8.3 of the university’s General and Academic Regulations (GAR) by failing to record and submit an alleged examination malpractice involving a student, Chikamso Favour Okechukwu, on the prescribed form.
Additionally, the lecturer was found to have violated Section 5.8.1(iv) of the university regulations by returning a mobile phone confiscated from the student on the same day. The student involved has since been referred to the Students’ Examination Misconduct Committee for further investigation.
Meanwhile, university management has granted the panel a two-week extension to conclude investigations into three outstanding issues tied to the case:
- Determining whether sexual harassment occurred
- Establishing the identities of individuals involved in an alleged physical assault against Prof. Odinye
- Investigating allegations of a related kidnapping incident
UNIZIK authorities noted that no conclusions have been reached on these three remaining matters, emphasizing that final determinations will follow the submission of the panel’s full report.
