By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

A lecturer in the Department of Chinese Studies, Prof. Ifeanyi Sunny Odinye, has been slammed with three months suspension with half salary over alleged contravention of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka General and Academic Regulations.

The university, however, deferred consideration of the allegation of sexual harassment against the don, saying that further investigations were required to establish the facts surrounding the allegation.

The decisions came on the heels of an interim report of a six-member Special Investigative Panel set up by the university to investigate allegations arising from an incident involving staff and students of the Department of Chinese Studies.

The panel which was chaired by the Provost of the College of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Emmanuel Obidimma, submitted its preliminary report to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, on Friday.

A statement issued on Monday by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Comrade Aloysius Emeka Attah said that the panel’s preliminary report addressed two of the five issues contained in its terms of reference.

According to him, the panel found Prof. Odinye to have contravened Section 5.8.3 of the university’s General and Academic Regulations by failing to record and submit an alleged examination misconduct case involving a student, Chikamso Favour Okechukwu, on the prescribed Examination Misconduct Report Form.

"It also faulted him for returning to the student, on the same day, a mobile phone allegedly recovered from her during the examination, contrary to Section 5.8.1(iv) of the regulations.

"Consequently, the Vice-Chancellor approved the panel’s recommendation for the three-month suspension, with half salary, in the first instance.

"The student involved in the examination incident, Okechukwu, has also been referred to the university’s Students Examination Misconduct Committee for further consideration."

However, the university management noted that three other issues including include the allegation of sexual harassment, the identities of those allegedly involved in the assault on Prof. Odinye and whether there was an actual incident of kidnapping, which are before the investigative panel had not been concluded.

The Vice-Chancellor has consequently extended the panel’s tenure by another two weeks to enable it complete its investigation into the outstanding issues.

The panel is expected to submit its final findings and recommendations to the Vice-Chancellor at the end of the extended period of time, after which a final decision, including possible criminal prosecution where warranted, may be taken.

The university management further said the action was in line with the administration’s commitment to staff and students’ welfare, transparency, fair hearing and zero tolerance for unethical practices.

It also added: "The suspension of Prof. Odinye was based on the findings already established by the panel, while the unresolved allegations would be determined after the completion of the ongoing investigation."