By Akinwale Kasali
The Management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra, has suspended a Lecturer for alleged Se*ual misconduct.
The Lecturer, Prof. Ifeanyi Sunny Odinye of the Department of Chinese Studies, was suspended for three months with half pay over alleged se*ual misconduct and contravention of the University’s General and Academic Regulations.
Two weeks ago,
a video of Professr Odinye, being physically assaulted by some students for allegedly attempting to take advantage of a female student who he had, allegedly, previously caught involved in examination malpractice went viral.
Odinye was humiliated, stripped naked and severely beaten 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, and submitted last Friday.
The Student involved in the matter, Chikamso Favour Okechukwu, also faced the Students’ Examination Misconduct Committee for further investigation.
The University had, in a statement, said that the Preliminary Report addressed two of the Five Issues in the Panel’s terms of reference.
The Panel found that Professor Odinye 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 to the prescribed Examination Misconduct Report Form.
It also found out that Odinye 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, iden
tities of the persons involved in the assault meted to Prof. Odinye and whether there was any incident of kidnapping in the matter”.
UNIZIK spokesman, Aloysius Attah in a statement said,
“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”.
Recall that a video had gone viral where the female student was coming out of the lecturer’s office with his clothes, claiming that the lecturer attempted to assault her in the office sexually.
In the clip, the student was heard shouting that the lecturer had attempted to rape her, prompting some unidentified men – believed to be students- to pursue the academician who had boarded a tricycle and exited the premises.
The lecturer wore only his academic gown at the time, apparently after the student left with his dress.
The clip later showed at least six students hitting and stomping on the lecturer, who was completely stripped within the university premises.
The female student, who was seen crying after reportedly running out of the lecturer’s office, was said to have pretended to be ready for the sexual encounter until the lecturer had removed most of his clothes.
Discover more from The Source
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
