UNIZIK Takes Action On Lecturer Beaten And Stripped By Students Over Sexual Molestation Of Female Student

The administration of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has announced a three-month suspension on half salary for Prof. Ifeanyi Odinye, a lecturer within the Department of Chinese Studies, citing professional and academic rule violations.

According to an official press release distributed on Monday by the institution’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Aloysius Attah, the university has temporarily stepped aside from ruling on the sexual harassment claims until a more comprehensive inquiry is finalized.

These initial actions stem from the preliminary findings of a six-member Special Investigative Panel established by the school authorities to look into the chaotic episode involving departmental members.

The panel, headed by Prof. Emmanuel Obidimma, who serves as the Provost of the College of Postgraduate Studies, delivered its initial findings to Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie on Friday.

The university’s intervention follows widespread online outrage triggered by a viral video from two weeks prior, which captured students physically confronting and stripping the lecturer on campus after accusations of inappropriate behavior toward a female student.

While expressing grave concern over the viral footage, university leaders strongly condemned the students’ resort to physical violence and self-help, immediately ordering an unbiased, exhaustive inquiry.

In his Monday briefing, Attah also confirmed that the student linked to the controversy, Chikamso Okechukwu, has been turned over to the student examination misconduct committee on the orders of the Vice-Chancellor.

The official statement noted, “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 announcement added, “The student involved in the unfortunate incident, Chikamso Okechukwu, according to the directive of the Vice Chancellor, has been referred to the student’s examination misconduct committee.”

Furthermore, leadership extended the panel’s operational window by an additional two weeks to allow the investigators to thoroughly resolve remaining aspects of their original five-point mandate.

The preliminary phase reviewed by Prof. Obidimma’s committee specifically indicted the lecturer for breaching Section 5.8.3 of the university’s General and Academic Regulations by failing to properly log an examination malpractice case involving Okechukwu on the official reporting forms, alongside returning a confiscated mobile device to the student on the same day in violation of Section 5.8.1(iv).

The remaining three focal points assigned to the committee—investigating whether sexual harassment took place, identifying the perpetrators who assaulted the lecturer, and determining if any kidnapping occurred—will be addressed during the two-week extension.

Investigators are expected to submit their final recommendations to the Vice-Chancellor to guide subsequent legal or disciplinary actions, potentially involving criminal proceedings.

The Vice-Chancellor reaffirmed the administration’s firm stance against unethical behavior, assuring both staff and students of a transparent process rooted in fair hearing principles.