The authorities at Nnamdi Azikiwe University may be in for a fresh crisis over the selection of a substantive Vice-Chancellor following the issuance of Form 86 by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Awka Judicial Division on the institution’s management threatening to commit them to prison for contempt of court.

Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Monsur Olugbenga Kukoyi had dismissed the court notice, stating that it was the handiwork of those scheming for tenure elongation of the acting Vice Chancellor. But details of the Form 86 obtained by our correspondent entitled: “Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Order of Court” in Suit No:NICN/AWK/61/2025 dated 30th Day of October, 2025 emphasised that “unless you obey the directions contained in this order, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”

The form was served on the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of the University, Barr Monsur Olugbenga Kukoyi; the acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Carol Arinze-Umobi and the Registrar, Dr. Chinenye Gloria Okeke. The latest development stems from a consent judgment delivered by Justice J. I. Targema of the National Industrial Court, Awka in 2024 in a suit between Professor Anthony Okoye vs Nnamdi Azikiwe University and 5 others who are staff and authorities of the institution.

In the said consent judgment, of which a Certified True Copy dated 16th October, 2024, was made available to our reporter, the court had averred: “That this Court, by the provisions of Order 42 Rule 9 of NICN Rules 2017 hereby enters the terms of Settlement as judgment of this court. The said terms shall be binding on the parties”.

It would be recalled that the Association of Medical and Dental Consultants in Academics had filed a suit with No NICN/ABJ/372/2024 against Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and others wherein the Association prayed to the Court to hold that the Medical Fellowship is equivalent to Ph.D for the purpose of qualification to be appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University. The suit was reportedly dismissed by the National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja in a recent judgment on the ground that the said subject matter has been determined in Suit No:NICN/AWK/50/2024 filed by Prof Anthony Okoye against Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka and 5 Ors by the National Industrial Court sitting in Awka. (The Sun)