Former Ojukwu University lecturers deny claims of insubordination and sexual harassment.

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka 

Two lecturers of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Prof. Chike Osegbue and Comrade Emeka Nwabunnia, who were among five academic staff sacked by the university’s governing council, have rejected the allegations leveled against them.

Osegbue, a member of the Political Science Department, was accused of insubordination for refusing to teach a course to MSc students assigned to him. Nwabunnia, who teaches in the Microbiology Department, was accused of sexually exploiting students.

Osegbue was suspended for six months before the announcement of his eventual sack on Friday, while Nwabunnia was suspended for 30 months before his sack was announced.

In a press conference on Sunday, both lecturers refuted the allegations and spoke about what they described as the rot in the university.

Osegbue told journalists: “I’m not aware of my sack. When I was suspended, even though it was a poorly contrived allegation, at least I got a letter of suspension, but as for sack, I’m hearing it from the media just like you. I have just concluded my six months suspension and I’m waiting for a recall.”

When asked months ago about not teaching the postgraduate course PSC 811: Environmental Politics and Sustainable Development that had been allocated to him, Osegbue said he refused to teach because the students did not meet the criteria for examination and were only admitted two weeks before exams, which he said violated institutional law.

He added: “None of these students met the eligibility requirement, but they were nevertheless allowed to write examinations in other courses and I refused. Certificate racketeering within the institution is high.”

He said his problems began when he vied to be the Vice Chancellor of the institution and finished first, but the current Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kate Azuka Omenugha, who finished fifth, was appointed by the visitor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.

“We are already in court about that because I don’t see how someone who came fifth was picked ahead of someone who came first. They are several petitions against the Vice Chancellor relating to fraud at EFCC and we are in court with them on that, so I will not delve into that.”

Comrade Nwabunnia told journalists that the accusation of sexual exploitation was untrue, insisting that a video presented as evidence against him was fabricated with AI technology.

He said he was the most upright lecturer in the entire department, standing against bribery and sexual exploitation, and that as a former chairman of ASUU in the university, he had the integrity to protect the institution.