Varsity lecturer suspended over sexual misconduct

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 sexual misconduct and contravention of the university’s General and Academic Regulations.

Two weeks ago, a video of Odinye being physically ass@ulted by some students for allegedly attempting to take advantage of a female student who he had previously caught involved in examination malpractice went viral. Odinye was stripped n@ked and b€aten severely by the students.

In a statement released on Monday, August 24, the institution’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Aloysius Attah, said the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bond Anyaehie, approved the suspension of the accused lecturer following recommendations in the preliminary report of a six- member Special Investigative Panel chaired by the Provost, College of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Emmanuel Obidimma, submitted last Friday.

He said the university also referred the student involved in the matter, Chikamso Favour Okechukwu, to the Students’ Examination Misconduct Committee for further investigation.

According to the university, the preliminary report addressed two of the five issues in the panel’ s terms of reference.

The panel found Odinye to have contravened Section 5. 8. 5.8.3 of the university’ s General and Academic Regulations by failing to record and submit the alleged examination misconduct involving Okechukwu on the prescribed Examination Misconduct Report Form.

The panel also found that the lecturer returned the mobile phone recovered from the student during the examination to her on the same day, contrary to Section 5. 8. 5.8.1(iv) of the regulations.

The statement mentioned that three other issues for determination by the committee, which shall be addressed within the two- week extended time frame, included “whether there was sexual harassment, identities of the persons involved in the assault meted to Prof. Odinye and whether there was any incident of kidnapping in the matter”.

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 sexual harassment, identities of the persons involved in the assault 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.”