Victor EzejaReactions have continued to trail the appointment of Professor Benard Odoh as the seventh substantive Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State.
The governing council led by Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Amb. Greg Mbadiwe, on 29 October announced the appointment of Odoh as the new vice chancellor, taking over from Prof. Carol Arinze-Umobi, who had spent four months in the office in acting capacity.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelEarlier, the university council also appointed a new registrar, Mrs Rosemary Nwokike, under a controversial circumstance.
Various groups including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCAN), UNIZIK chapter, and other critical stakeholders in the university community and the state generally have raised concerns about the process through which the Mbadiwe-led governing council conducted the VC appointment process and called on the federal government to nullify it.
Prime Business Africa gathered that the council engaged in a series of gambits to avoid being served court orders halting the appointment process until the matter is determined.
The ASUU UNIZIK chapter while pointing out “infractions by the pro-chancellor and his clique of council members in the selection exercise for vice chancellor and registrar,” revealed that before the interview of applicants for the position which started at 12 pm, about two court summons (Motion on notice) were served on the Registrar, who refused to receive them.
“Determined not to obey any court summon, they proceeded with the exercise. A later attempt by ASUU to serve theirs was met with vehement resistance as the security men at the hotel gate were directed not to allow in any person. In short the court bailiff was rough-handled and pushed out of the hotel,” the academic union stated.
READ ALSO: Nigerian Govt Nullifies Appointment Of New VC For UNIZIK
It added that it was the same scenario that played out during the selection process for the position of the Registrar. “The exercise for the selection of the Registrar was more dramatic in the sense that on the said day, the selection Committee changed venue three times as they kept running from one place to another for fear of being served a court order.”
A copy of court summon dated 25th October 2024 served on the council, made available to Prime Business Africa, is about a suit filed by Prof. Ikechukwu Ekwealor and Rev Fr Prof. Josephat Obi Oguejiofor against the governing council, Pro-chancellor/Chairman, and Registrar among others. The plaintiffs sought among other things, a declaration that the selection of the VC and some members of the governing council by Mbadiwe and the council was unlawful and an order setting aside the purported selection of the VC and some members of the governing council.
Also, the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Nnewi chapter, filed a suit at the National Industrial Court Abuja, challenging the process of the appointment of VC. The court summon was also served on the council on the same day.
The eligibility criteria outlined, excluded members from the faculties of Medicine and Basic clinical sciences from participating in the process of applying for position of VC.
Following their tactical refusal to be served with the court originating processes, Justice I. E. Ekwo of the Abuja Federal High Court, on 30 October 2024, granted a leave to the plaintiffs to serve the originating process and other processes in the suit on the UNIZIK governing council and registrar by substituted means.
Meanwhile, the federal government through the ministry of education has announced nullification of the appointment of VC and registrar, while the university authorities have insisted that due process was followed.
Other stakeholders have expressed concerns about the implication of the exercise on the reputational credibility of the University.
A professor emeritus of UNIZIK, Uba Nwuba, said UNIZIK is an institution of repute named after a highly reputable nationalist in Nigeria, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, and warned that the process of emergence of a leader of the citadel should not be toiled with. Professor Nwuba said that anyone with questionable character and record should not be allowed close to the office that requires proven integrity.
“Nnamdi Azikiwe University is not a place to be toyed with. It is an Institution of repute named after a highly reputable nationalist in Nigeria. We have always had very good Vice-Chancellors elected/selected using laid down due process.
“What is happening this time? How can such a name be shortlisted for appointment of Vice-Chancellor of UNIZIK? Dr Odoh was appointed into Ebonyi State Government office. He arrived at Ebonyi State and registered his name as professor when he was a reader in UNIZIK. Concerned citizens inquired from the University and they were told that Dr Odoh was a reader, while Dr Odoh was parading himself everywhere including in press media, as professor. How can such a character be mentioned for such an elevated post which requires proven integrity. This can never happen!” Nwuba stated.
Also commenting on the VC appointment process, Chairman of Grand Towers, Nze Chidi Duru, emphasised that the office requires that due process must be followed to elect a complete person.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
