UNIZIK suspends lecturer for three months over sexual misconduct

Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka has suspended Professor Ifeanyi Odinye, a lecturer in the Department of Chinese Studies, for three months and placed him on half salary due to allegations of sexual misconduct. The university deferred consideration of the allegation of sexual harassment, stating that further investigations were required to establish the facts.

The decision came after a six-member Special Investigative Panel, chaired by Prof. Emmanuel Obidimma, submitted its preliminary report to the Vice-Chancellor on Friday. The incident was brought to the attention of the university management following a viral video showing students physically assaulting and rough-handling Odinye on university premises after he was allegedly caught molesting a female student.

The university condemned the use of violence and emphasized their commitment to zero tolerance to unethical practices. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Anyaehie, approved the suspension following the panel's report, which indicted Odinye for contravening university regulations by failing to record and submit the case of examination misconduct against the student involved.

The panel also investigated whether there was sexual harassment, the identities of those involved in the assault, and any incident of kidnapping.