UNIZIK suspends, dismisses staff, students for misconduct

Authorities of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, have suspended no fewer than 14 academic and non-academic staff, and other categories of employees, including students for various misconducts and offences.

Five lecturers were charged with various offenses, including extorting money from students who passed their courses.

For manipulating a student to demand money from other students, one lecturer was fired. He was accused of “brazenly” publicizing the names of pupils who had passed his courses as having failed in order to blackmail them.

A lecturer at the Department of History and International Relations was fired after he was accused of faking grades and outcomes to benefit a particular pupil.

After being charged with receiving payment from students in exchange for receiving undeserved grades, three lecturers in the faculty of education were placed on administrative leave “pending appropriate procedure.”

A priest and the implicated students received sanctions as well.

The priest and another person were both charged with encouraging cheating during exams after receiving payment from students.

This was contained in a press release on Sunday that was signed by Dr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, the Special Adviser for Public Relations and Special Duties.

This, according to Ojukwu, was a follow-up to the panel’s recommendations that the accused authorities, including students, be suspended and expelled.

The statement read, “The Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has taken disciplinary actions against the following staff and students for various offences.

“Principal Executive Officer 11, abandoned his duty post for a considerable length of time. As a result, he was indicted for gross misconduct and suspended from duty for six months to serve as a deterrent to other officers

“Senior Executive Officer was indicted for fraudulent financial transaction concerning the university. She was suspended for six months on half salary.

“Examination Officer in the Department of History and International Relations was indicted for clearing and graduating a student who had 12 outstanding courses. He admitted that he committed the offence and was therefore found guilty of falsification of results and grades in favour of the said student and was dismissed from the services of the university following the appropriate procedure.

“Two lecturers in the Faculty of Education were indicted for sorting, obtaining money from students in exchange for unmerited scores. They are suspended from duty following the appropriate procedure

“The students who were used for the collection of money were suspended for one academic year, and one student was expelled from the university for financial fraud, swindling fellow students, exploitation, and deliberate refusal to cooperate with the investigation.

“Another lecturer was indicted for sorting for grades and using a student to collect money from students. The lecturer brazenly listed the names of students who passed his courses as having failed, with the sole purpose of extorting them. The panel recommended him for dismissal as he was described as ‘unfit’ for the university.”

More information and the names of the indicted officers are contained in the school bulletin.

The school bulletin contains more details as well as the names of the charged officers.