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 institution’s General and Academic Regulations.
The suspension follows an incident last week in which Odinye was reportedly assaulted and stripped by suspected students after allegations involving a female student whom he had earlier accused of examination malpractice.
A video of the incident later went viral, prompting the university to constitute a six-member special investigative panel to examine the circumstances surrounding the matter.
The panel, chaired by the Provost of the College of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Emmanuel Obidimma, submitted its preliminary report to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, on Friday, August 21, 2026.
In a statement issued on Monday by the university’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Aloysius Emeka Attah, UNIZIK said the panel had so far addressed two of the five issues contained in its terms of reference.
According to the preliminary findings, Odinye was indicted for allegedly failing to formally report the examination misconduct involving the student and for returning a phone recovered from her during the examination on the same day.
The university said the alleged actions contravened Sections 5.8.3 and 5.8.1(iv) of its General and Academic Regulations.
“The Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, has approved the suspension of Prof. Ifeanyi Sunny Odinye, a lecturer in the Department of Chinese Studies, for a period of three months with half salary in the first instance,” the statement said.
The female student, identified as Chikamso Favour Okechukwu, has also been referred to the university’s Students’ Examination Misconduct Committee.
Meanwhile, the investigative panel has been given an additional two weeks to conclude its probe into the remaining issues, including the allegation of sexual harassment against the lecturer, the identities of those allegedly involved in the assault and an alleged kidnapping linked to the incident.
The university said the panel would submit its final findings and recommendations to the Vice-Chancellor before a final decision is taken, including possible criminal prosecution where necessary.
The Vice-Chancellor reaffirmed UNIZIK’s commitment to the welfare of both staff and students, stressing that the institution would not tolerate unethical conduct while ensuring transparency and fair hearing for all parties involved.
