The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has suspended Prof. Ifeanyi Odinye, a lecturer in the Department of Chinese Studies, for three months with half salary over alleged sexual misconduct and breaches of the university’s General and Academic Regulations.
The decision followed a preliminary report by a six-member Special Investigative Panel set up to probe an incident involving staff and students of the department.
In a statement on Monday, the university’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Aloysius Attah, said the panel, chaired by Prof. Emmanuel Obidimma, submitted its report to Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie on Friday.
However, the university deferred consideration of the sexual harassment allegation, saying more investigation was needed.
The probe began after a video went viral showing students assaulting and rough-handling Odinye on campus after he was allegedly caught molesting a female student. The university condemned the violence and ordered a full and impartial investigation.
According to the statement, student Chikamso Okechukwu has also been referred to the student’s examination misconduct committee.
The panel found Odinye had breached Section 5.8.3 of the university’s regulations by failing to properly report an alleged examination misconduct case against Okechukwu and returning the phone recovered during the examination to the student.
The panel’s remaining issues include whether sexual harassment occurred, the identities of those involved in the assault and whether kidnapping occurred.
The committee has been given two more weeks to complete its work before submitting recommendations to the Vice-Chancellor. Possible criminal prosecution may follow.
The Vice-Chancellor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to staff and student welfare, transparency, fair hearing and zero tolerance for unethical practices.
