AWKA — The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK, has approved the suspension of Prof. Ifeanyi Sunny Odinye of the Department of Chinese Studies for three months with half salary over alleged violations relating to an examination misconduct case.
The suspension was announced on Monday in a statement signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Mr. Aloysius Attah. It takes effect following the submission of an interim report by a six-member Special Investigative Panel on Friday, August 21, 2026.
Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, approved the sanction based on recommendations in the preliminary report. The panel was chaired by the Provost, College of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Emmanuel Obidimma.
According to the university, the panel investigated five issues but addressed two in its preliminary report. Prof. Odinye was found to have contravened Sections 5.8.3 and 5.8.1(iv) of UNIZIK’s General and Academic Regulations.
Specifically, the panel found that he:
1. Failed to record and submit an alleged examination misconduct case involving Chikamso Favour Okechukwu, a student of the Department of Chinese Studies, on the prescribed Examination Misconduct Report Form.
2.Returned a phone recovered from the student during the examination to her on the same day, contrary to university regulations.
The student, Chikamso Favour Okechukwu, has been referred to the Students’ Examination Misconduct Committee for further investigation.
The university said the panel’s assignment has been extended by two weeks to address the remaining three issues: whether there was sexual harassment, the identities of those who assaulted Prof. Odinye on August 15, and whether there was any incident of kidnapping.
Prof. Odinye was physically assaulted and stripped by some students on August 15 following the allegation. Management condemned “jungle justice” and reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards misconduct while insisting that all allegations must go through due process.
UNIZIK said a final verdict, including possible criminal prosecution, will be made after the panel concludes its work.
