The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has suspended Prof. Ifeanyi Odinye, a lecturer in the Department of Chinese Studies, for three months on half salary following the preliminary findings of a special investigative panel probing an incident involving the lecturer and students of the university.
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The university, however, clarified that the allegation of sexual harassment against Odinye has not yet been determined, saying further investigation is required before a conclusion can be reached on that aspect of the case.
The decision followed the interim report of a six-member Special Investigative Panel constituted by the university after a viral video showed some students physically assaulting and rough-handling the lecturer within the university premises following allegations that he had molested a female student.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Aloysius Attah, the university said the panel submitted its preliminary report to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, on Friday, August 21, 2026.
According to the university, the Vice-Chancellor subsequently approved Odinye’s suspension for an initial period of three months on half salary based on the panel’s recommendations.
“The Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Ugochukwu Anyaehie, has approved the suspension of Prof. Ifeanyi Odinye, a lecturer in the Department of Chinese Studies, for a period of three months with half salary on the first instance, following the recommendations of the six-man special investigative panel who submitted their preliminary report on Friday, August 21, 2026,” the statement said.
The panel, chaired by the Provost of the College of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Emmanuel Obidimma, was given five issues to investigate but had reached preliminary findings on only two at the time of submitting its report.
The university said the panel found that Odinye breached Section 5.8.3 of the General and Academic Regulations of Nnamdi Azikiwe University by failing to properly document and submit an alleged examination misconduct case involving a student, Chikamso Okechukwu, using the prescribed Examination Misconduct Report Form.
The panel further found that the lecturer returned the offending mobile phone recovered from the student during the examination on the same day, an action the university said was contrary to Section 5.8.1(iv) of its General and Academic Regulations.
“The Panel, chaired by Prof. Emmanuel Obidimma, Provost, College of Postgraduate Studies, in their preliminary report which dealt on two issues out of the five for determination, indicted Prof. Odinye for contravening Section 5.8.3 of the General and Academic Regulations of Nnamdi Azikiwe University by failing to not only record and submit the case of examination misconduct against Chikamso Okechukwu on the prescribed Examination Misconduct Report Form, but also gave back the offending phone recovered during the examination to the student on the same day in total disregard to Section 5.8.1(iv) of the GAR,” the statement read.
The student involved in the incident, Chikamso Okechukwu, has also been referred to the university’s Students’ Examination Misconduct Committee for consideration.
The university said the investigative panel has been granted an additional two weeks to complete its work and address the remaining three issues contained in its five-point terms of reference.
Those outstanding issues include determining whether sexual harassment occurred, identifying the persons involved in the assault on Prof. Odinye, and establishing whether there was any incident of kidnapping connected with the matter.
The university stressed that the sexual harassment allegation remains under investigation and has therefore not formed the basis of a final finding against the lecturer at this stage.
“Other three issues for determination by the committee which shall be addressed within the two weeks extended time frame included whether there was sexual harassment, identities of the persons involved in the assault meted to Prof. Odinye and whether there was any incident of kidnapping in the matter,” the statement said.
The panel is expected to submit its final findings and recommendations to the Vice-Chancellor at the end of the extended period.
According to the institution, a final decision, including the possibility of criminal prosecution where warranted, will only be considered after the committee concludes its investigation.
The controversy began after a video circulated on social media about two weeks earlier showing some students confronting and physically assaulting Odinye on campus.
The incident generated widespread reactions, with allegations that the lecturer had been caught molesting a female student.
Following the circulation of the video, UNIZIK management condemned the use of violence and warned against self-help or jungle justice, irrespective of the allegations involved.
The university consequently ordered what it described as an immediate, comprehensive and impartial investigation into the entire incident, including both the allegations against the lecturer and the conduct of the students involved.
The Vice-Chancellor reiterated that his administration would continue to prioritise the welfare of both staff and students while maintaining zero tolerance for unethical conduct.
“The Vice Chancellor reiterates the stance of his administration’s prioritisation of staff/students’ welfare and zero tolerance to unethical practices while upholding the principles of transparency and fair hearing,” the university stated.
For now, Odinye remains suspended for three months on half salary over the regulatory breaches identified in the panel’s preliminary report, while the more serious allegation of sexual harassment, as well as the circumstances surrounding the assault and alleged kidnapping, remain subject to further investigation.
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