UNIZIK Suspends Professor Over Alleged Sexual Assault Of Student

Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has suspended Ifeanyi Odinye, a professor in its Department of Chinese Studies, over allegations linked to the attempted sexual assault of a student.

The university said the suspension will run for three months in the first instance, with half salary, after a six-member panel submitted a preliminary report on the case.

Premium Times reported that the suspension followed an incident on August 15 in which students physically assaulted and stripped the lecturer over an alleged attempt to sexually molest a female student. Vanguard identified the student as Chikamso Favour Okechukwu.

The university spokesperson, Aloysius Attah, said Vice-Chancellor Ugochukwu Anyaehie approved the suspension after the panel reviewed allegations against the lecturer. The case was also referred for further disciplinary action under the university’s rules.

The allegation remains under university investigation. The school said the temporary suspension was part of steps taken after the panel’s preliminary findings.

Sources: Vanguard, Premium Times