Two lecturers of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Prof. Chike Osegbue and Comrade Emeka Nwabunnia, have rejected the allegations levelled against them following their dismissal by the university’s Governing Council.
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The two lecturers were among five academic staff whose dismissal was recently announced by the institution.
Osegbue, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science, was accused of insubordination for allegedly refusing to teach a postgraduate course allocated to him, while Nwabunnia, of the Department of Microbiology, was accused of sexually exploiting students.
Before the announcement of his dismissal, Osegbue had been placed on six months’ suspension, while Nwabunnia had been on suspension for 30 months.
But addressing journalists at a press conference on Sunday, the two lecturers denied the allegations and accused the university authorities of victimisation and deeper institutional rot.
Osegbue said he was not formally aware of his dismissal, insisting that he only heard about it from media reports.
According to him, when he was suspended, he received an official letter, but no such communication had been served on him regarding any dismissal.
“I’m not aware of my sack. When I was suspended, even though it was a poorly contrived allegation, at least I got a letter of suspension, but as for sack, I’m hearing it from the media just like you. I have just concluded my six months suspension and I’m waiting for a recall,” he said.
Responding to the allegation that he refused to teach a postgraduate course, PSC 811: Environmental Politics and Sustainable Development, allocated to him, Osegbue said his refusal was based on what he described as irregularities in the admission and examination process.
He said the students involved were admitted only two weeks before the examinations and, in his view, did not meet the eligibility requirements to sit for the exams under the university’s rules.
Presenting his response to an earlier query before journalists, Osegbue said the students were allowed to write examinations in other courses despite not meeting the required academic conditions, but he refused to participate in what he considered an unlawful process.
“None of these students met the eligibility requirement, but they were nevertheless allowed to write examinations in other courses, but I refused. Certificate racketeering within the institution is high,” his response read.
Osegbue alleged that his trouble with the university authorities began after he contested for the position of Vice Chancellor of the institution.
He claimed that he came first in the interview process, while the current Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kate Azuka Omenugha, allegedly came fifth but was appointed by the Visitor to the university, Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
“We are already in court about that because I don’t see how someone who came fifth was picked ahead of someone who came first,” he said.
He further alleged that there were petitions against the Vice Chancellor relating to fraud before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, but declined to speak further on the matter because, according to him, the issues were already before the court.
“There are several petitions against the Vice Chancellor relating to fraud at EFCC and we are in court with them on that, so I will not delve into that,” he added.
On his part, Nwabunnia denied the allegation of sexual exploitation, insisting that the claim against him was false.
He alleged that a video reportedly tendered as evidence against him was fabricated using artificial intelligence technology.
Nwabunnia said he had always stood against bribery and sexual exploitation in the Department of Microbiology and described himself as one of the most upright lecturers in the department.
He said his record as a former Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities in the institution showed that he had integrity to protect.
According to him, the allegations were part of attempts to damage his reputation and silence him.
The lecturers maintained that the accusations against them were unfounded and vowed to continue defending their names through lawful means.
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