Professor Benard Ifeanyi Odoh might have been removed as the 7th Vice Chancellor (VC) of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK) by the Ministry of Education, but the controversy surrounding his appointment and sack is far from being over as more facts have continued to emerge on a daily basis to reveal Odoh duly earned his promotions; thereby discrediting the insistence of Federal University, Gusau (FUGUS) that it didn’t engage the services of the professor at any time.

Interested parties in the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK) Vice-Chancellorship saga may be in for a shock as more facts have continued to emerge on a daily basis to discredit the insistence of Federal University, Gusau (FUGUS) that it didn’t at any time engage the services of the recently sacked 7th VC of UNIZIK, Professor Benard Ifeanyi Odoh, at any time.

Recall that controversies have surrounded Odoh’s promotion to the full rank of a professor, with FUGUS management denying his employment status in the institution in a recent world press conference. The VC of FUGUS, Professor Abubakar Muazu, had in a press conference, penultimate week, claimed that Odoh “has neither served as a professor at the Federal University of Gusau nor did the university ever employ him.”

Abubakar also said that letters allegedly showing Odoh’s appointment and confirmation as a professor—dated April 30, 2015, and November 12, 2015—are “products of administrative fraud.”

Trending documents
nevertheless, amidst the controversies stirred by the FUGUS VC, details of an application letter sent by Odoh to the Registrar of the institution, dated 10th June, 2014, has surfaced online.

The letter sent via the FUGUS’ e-mail address read: “APPLICATION FOR VISITING PROFESSOR

“I am very delighted to write and apply for a position of a visiting Professor of Geophysics in your university. I hold a PhD and M.Sc. degrees in Applied Geophysics and a B.Sc. degree in Geological Sciences from Nnamdi Azikiwe, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.

“I have over 10 years teaching experience and have lots of training locally and overseas to help advance your new university. Details of my training, work experiences and other relevant information on me are contained in my CV.”

Similarly, another trending document has also revealed how Odoh was promoted to the rank of a Senior Lecturer in UNIZIK in 2013, with effect from October 1, 2012 and placed on CONUASS 05.

A copy of the letter of promotion dated 11th September, 2013 and signed by the then Registrar of UNIZIK, C. C. Okeke, addressed to Odoh, stated, “I have the pleasure to inform you that the Governing Council at its 90th Meeting held on Friday, 6th September, 2013, approved that you be promoted and you are hereby promoted to the rank of Senior Lecturer on CONUASS 05, with effect from October 1, 2012.

“By a copy of this letter, the Bursar is requested to place you on the appropriate step of CONUASS 05. I congratulate you and hope that you will continue with the good work that earned you the promotion.”

Also in the public domain are records of letters revealing details of Odoh’s trainings, promotions, letters of commendations, awards and recommendations sent to the authorities of FUGUS on Odoh’s accomplishments in UNIZIK, which earned him employment at the institution.

Litigation

Following the controversies, a recent statement from his Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity, Charles Otu, stated that Odoh has instituted a legal action at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), against the management of Federal University Gusau, with suit number: NICN/ ABJ/434/ 2024.

Though no date has been fixed for the hearing of Odoh’s suit, the sacked UNIZIK VC has vowed that he will leave no stone unturned to seek legal redress in a court of competent jurisdiction “on the very weighty and damaging allegations against his person and unblemished records,” accusing the FUGUS management of being in league with politicians to nail and pitch him not just against the academic community, but the rest of Nigeria and the world.

Analyst speaks

Speaking with this reporter, a public affairs analyst, Michael Chukwu, said that Odoh merited the promotions in UNIZIK and was equally employed by FUGUS, advising the institution not to allow itself to be manipulated by politicians.

He said: “With the trending documents showing Odoh was promoted to the rank of Senior Lecturer on October 1, 2012, by October 1, 2015, based on his creative contributions, Odoh had already met the qualifications to be considered for a professorship, which is exactly what FUGUS recognized. It’s important for people to understand that his promotion was well-deserved.

“Also recall that two, out of the three professors that assessed Odoh had approached the Courts in Enugu and Ekpoma, Edo State where they had deposed to affidavits attesting to their roles in duly assessing and promoting Odoh to the rank of a professor. This is even as all matters pertaining to the issue is now before an Abuja National Industrial Court.

“It remains to be seen what the court will decide on the controversies or if the FUGUS management can recant on the face of trending documents because it doesn’t speak well of a reputable institution like FUGUS to perjure itself or allow itself to be manipulated by desperate politicians.

“Odoh may not be UNIZIK VC today, but it is necessary to straighten records and of utmost importance his image is not tarnished in the media. Recall what happened to former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, who was recently acquitted by the Court of Appeal, after some desperate politicians conspired to remove him as CJN through the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

‘So, I will advise Odoh not to relent in his pursuit of justice as it is his reputation that is at stake. When you check Google, it is the allegations against him that are trending. So, there is every need for him to tell his own side of the story for the world to know he is not guilty as charged. He should not succumb to any intimidation or play the gentleman, but must clear his name using the same media being used by those against him.”