Prof. Bernard Odoh, the fired Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra State, criticised on Thursday the manner in which he was ousted as the institution’s VC, claiming that it did not follow due process.
Odoh’s issues stem from his dismissal and that of the institution’s governing council over his alleged “illegal” appointment.
In a statement made on Wednesday, Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, declared that the Federal Government needs to intervene to address rising tensions.
“The sacking of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council illegally appointed an unqualified vice chancellor without following due process.
“After the controversial appointment, the Federal Government stepped in to address tensions between the university’s Senate and the Governing Council of the 33-year-old institution.
“The government expressed concern over the council’s apparent disregard for the university’s governing laws in its selection process,” read the statement.
However, in an interview with Arise TV, Odoh stated that he will not accept his dismissal through a press release but rather based on the recommendations of an investigative council.
He said, “I’m not disobeying Mr. President, but it is the governing council that will recommend my sack after investigating me,” adding that “Mr. President could have been ill-advised.”
“You can’t fire somebody you didn’t employ. The Visitor (Tinubu) appointed the council, and the council followed due process to engage and give me a letter. He can’t remove me through a press release.
“There was no panel of inquiry. I was not appointed through a press release but rather by a constituted authority that followed a straightforward procedure,” he added.
“What some people did was to pay somebody to remove my records from the university. The VC who appointed me still teaches at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and he wrote my reference letter,” he added.
The UNIZIK VC mentioned that the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, “jumped the gun” with regards to his sack as he (Odoh) has four pending lawsuits filed against him in different courts.
“Those matters are yet to be determined, and now the minister jumped the gun on a matter the Federal Ministry of Education is a party to as defendants. The court hasn’t ruled on this matter. So, I don’t see a basis for all of this noise,” he noted.
Odoh claimed that his tribulations were also related to being a citizen of a “third-class” state and that he would visit the university to guarantee that accreditations and activities were completed appropriately.
“I’m from Ebonyi State. We are regarded as third-class people. People feel I’m not qualified because I come from Ebonyi State. People have ganged up to remove me at all costs.
“I am going to the university to ensure that activities and accreditation go on. The Federal Ministry of Education is introducing a crisis on campus. I am an alumnus of this university. It pains me that the university is being destroyed,” he said.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had accused the Governing Council of the institution of failing to follow due process in Odoh’s appointment and had demanded that the ministry dissolve the council over acts of illegality.
