By NEWSCOUNT Desk
The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has suspended a professor in the Department of Chinese Studies, Prof. Ifeanyi Sunny Odinye, for three months over alleged violations of the university’s regulations in the handling of an examination misconduct case involving a female student.
The suspension, which takes effect with half salary, followed the submission of a preliminary report by a six-member Special Investigative Panel set up by the university to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident involving the lecturer and the student.
The university said the suspension was approved by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, after the panel submitted its preliminary findings on Friday, August 21, 2026.
The panel, chaired by the Provost of the College of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Emmanuel Obidimma, was constituted after Odinye was physically assaulted on the university premises on August 15, 2026. The assault followed allegations made against him by a female student.
Videos of the incident later circulated on social media, attracting widespread public attention and prompting questions about what led to the confrontation between the lecturer and the student.
In response, the university management ordered an investigation to establish the facts and determine whether any member of the university community had breached the institution’s rules or committed an offence.
According to a statement by the university’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Aloysius Attah, the panel was assigned five issues to investigate.
These included the circumstances surrounding the alleged examination misconduct, the sexual harassment allegation against the lecturer, the identities of those involved in the physical assault on Odinye and the circumstances surrounding an alleged kidnapping incident.
The panel has so far concluded its consideration of two of the five issues in its terms of reference.
On the examination misconduct matter, the panel found that Odinye contravened Sections 5.8.3 and 5.8.1(iv) of the university’s General and Academic Regulations in his handling of the case involving the student, identified as Chikamso Favour Okechukwu.
The university said the panel found that the lecturer failed to record and submit the alleged misconduct on the prescribed Examination Misconduct Report Form, as required by the regulations.
The panel also found that he returned to the student, on the same day, a mobile phone allegedly recovered from her during the examination.
It regarded the actions as a breach of the university’s established procedures for handling examination misconduct and recommended disciplinary action against the lecturer.
Based on the preliminary findings, the university approved Odinye’s three-month suspension with half salary.
Management also directed that the student involved in the examination incident be referred to the Students’ Examination Misconduct Committee for appropriate proceedings in line with university regulations.
The university, however, stressed that the suspension does not amount to a final determination of the separate sexual harassment allegation against the lecturer.
That allegation remains under investigation, as the panel has not concluded its consideration of the matter or the other outstanding issues in its terms of reference.
The university said the remaining issues include determining whether sexual harassment occurred, identifying those involved in the physical assault of the lecturer and examining the allegation of kidnapping connected with the incident.
To allow the panel to complete its work, the Vice Chancellor approved an additional two weeks for the submission of its final report and recommendations.
The report is expected to guide management in deciding what further disciplinary or other measures may be necessary in relation to the outstanding allegations.
The university said any final decision would be based on the findings and recommendations in the completed report. It added that criminal prosecution would be considered where the circumstances and available evidence warranted such action.
Management also cautioned members of the university community against violence and self-help, stressing the need to resolve disputes through due process and fair hearing.
It said allegations of misconduct should be properly investigated rather than settled through physical confrontation or mob action.
The university further reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the welfare of staff and students while holding members of the community accountable for violations of its rules and regulations.
With the preliminary findings leading to the lecturer’s suspension, attention will now turn to the panel’s final report. Its recommendations are expected to determine the university’s position on the outstanding allegations, particularly the sexual harassment claim and the circumstances surrounding the assault on the lecturer.
Until the panel completes its work and management considers its final recommendations, the sexual harassment allegation remains unresolved.
