The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, has suspended a lecturer in the Department of Chinese Studies, Prof. Ifeanyi Sunny Odinye, for three months with half salary over alleged violations of the university’s General and Academic Regulations.
The development followed an incident involving Odinye and a female student, Chikamso Favour Okechukwu, which was captured in a viral video. The lecturer was reportedly stripped by suspected students about a week earlier after allegations that he attempted to take advantage of the student, whom he had previously caught engaging in examination malpractice.
Following the incident, the university constituted a six-member Special Investigative Panel on Friday, August 21, 2026, to investigate the allegations surrounding the matter.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the university’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Comrade Aloysius Emeka Attah, MNIPR, the panel’s preliminary report considered two of the five issues contained in its terms of reference.
The panel found that the lecturer returned the phone allegedly recovered from the student during the examination to her on the same day, contrary to university regulations.
Based on the findings, the Vice-Chancellor approved Odinye’s suspension for three months, with half salary during the period.
However, the panel deferred consideration of the sexual harassment allegation against the lecturer, saying further investigation was required to establish the facts surrounding the claim.
The university said the remaining three issues are whether sexual harassment occurred, the identities of those involved in the assault on Prof. Odinye, and whether any kidnapping took place during the incident.
The investigation has consequently been extended by another two weeks to enable the panel to complete its assignment and address all five issues in its terms of reference.
Meanwhile, the female student involved, Chikamso Favour Okechukwu, has been referred to the university’s Students’ Examination Misconduct Committee on the directive of the Vice-Chancellor.
