Susan Abayomi
The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, has suspended a lecturer in the Department of Chinese Studies, Prof. Ifeanyi Sunny Odinye, for three months with half salary following preliminary findings by a special investigative panel.
The university also referred a student, Chikamso Favour Okechukwu, to its Students’ Examination Misconduct Committee for further proceedings over an alleged examination misconduct case.
According to the university, the six-member investigative panel found that Odinye failed to properly document and submit the alleged examination misconduct case using the prescribed Examination Misconduct Report Form.
The panel also found that the lecturer returned a mobile phone allegedly recovered from the student during the examination on the same day, contrary to provisions of the university’s General and Academic Regulations.
The suspension followed the panel’s preliminary report submitted on August 21, 2026. However, the university said the investigation is not yet concluded, as the panel was originally given five issues to examine but had only reached preliminary findings on two.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, has therefore extended the panel’s assignment by another two weeks to enable it to complete its investigation.
UNIZIK said other issues surrounding the incident remain under investigation, stressing that the final outcome will depend on the completion of the panel’s work and the relevant disciplinary processes.
The development comes after videos of a confrontation involving the lecturer and some students circulated online, prompting the university to set up the investigative panel to establish what transpired.
The university’s latest action highlights its enforcement of established procedures for handling examination misconduct and other disciplinary matters within the institution.
