The authorities of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK, Awka, Anambra State, have reinstated Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu as the institution’s acting vice chancellor, effective immediately.
On Thursday, Njelita Louis, the university’s Director of Information and Public Relations/Protocol Officer, issued a press statement confirming this.
Louis noted that the decision followed the invalidation of Prof. Bernard Odoh’s appointment as the seventh substantive Vice-Chancellor, which was considered unconstitutional.
He stated that Prof. Ikechebelu has been asked to take over full administrative responsibilities for the university immediately.
Mr. Victor Modebelu has also been named Acting Registrar, following the nullification of Mrs. Rosemary Ifeoma Nwokike’s nomination as substantive registrar.
The statement read: “This is to inform the Nnamdi Azikiwe University community and the general public that, in accordance with the directives of the Honourable Minister of Education and the approval of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Prof. Joseph I. Ikechebelu has been reinstated as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, with immediate effect.
“This decision follows the nullification of the appointment of Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh as the seventh substantive Vice-Chancellor, which was deemed illegally executed by the now-dissolved 10th Governing Council of the university.
“The reinstatement of Prof. Ikechebelu is outlined in the Federal Ministry of Education correspondence, Ref: FME/HE/CU/82°/1/308, dated 20th November 2024, and signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo.”
According to the statement, Ikechebelu has been directed to assume full administrative duties, with any problems requiring governing council approval sent to the Minister of Education until President Tinubu reconstitutes a new council.
In a similar line, the Honourable Minister of Education has approved the reinstatement of Mr. Victor Ikechukwu Modebelu as Acting Registrar, following the cancellation of Barr. Mrs. Rosemary Ifeoma Nwokike’s appointment as substantive registrar.
The dissolved 10th Governing Council ruled that Nwokike’s appointment, like that of the Vice-Chancellor, was unlawful.
The university community has been requested to provide full support and cooperation to the restored acting vice chancellor and acting registrar as they oversee the institution’s academic and administrative responsibilities.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
