UNIZIK Suspends Lecturer for Three Months, Slashes Salary Over Examination Misconduct Allegations

By Praise Chinecherem

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 with half salary pending the conclusion of investigations into allegations arising from an examination misconduct case.

The suspension was approved by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bond Anyaehie, following recommendations contained in the preliminary report of a six-member Special Investigative Panel set up by the university.

The university’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Aloysius Attah, disclosed this in a statement issued after the panel, chaired by the Provost of the College of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Emmanuel Obidimma, submitted its preliminary report on Friday, August 21, 2026.

According to the statement, the university has also referred the student involved in the case, Chikamso Favour Okechukwu, to the Students’ Examination Misconduct Committee for further investigation.

The preliminary report addressed two of the five issues contained in the panel’s terms of reference.

The panel found Prof. Odinye to have contravened Section 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.

It also found that the lecturer returned to the student, on the same day, a mobile phone allegedly recovered from her during the examination. The panel said this was contrary to Section 5.8.1(iv) of the university’s regulations.

The university stated: “The Panel… 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.”

However, the panel is yet to conclude its investigation into three other issues, including an allegation of sexual harassment.

The outstanding issues are “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 university said the panel had been granted an additional two weeks to conclude its investigation and submit its recommendations to the Vice-Chancellor.

A final decision on the matter, including the possibility of criminal prosecution, will be considered after the panel submits its final report.

The Vice-Chancellor, according to the statement, reiterated his administration’s commitment to staff and student welfare, as well as its “zero tolerance to unethical practices,” while emphasising the principles of transparency and fair hearing.

The three-month suspension therefore represents an interim administrative measure arising from the preliminary findings and should not be interpreted as a final determination on the unresolved allegations of sexual harassment, assault or kidnapping.

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