UniZik VC: Lecturers Petition Education Minister, Demand Odoh’s Immediate Reinstatement

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Lecturers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, have petitioned the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, demanding full enforcement and implementation of a binding judgment of the National Industrial Court, which reinstated Professor Benard Odoh as the duly appointed Vice Chancellor of the institution.

The lecturers urged the minister to direct the Governing Council to halt the ongoing illegal appointment process and enforce strict obedience to the Court order reinstating Odoh, stressing that in law, judgments remain binding until set aside.

Controversy had trailed Odoh’s appointment as the seventh substantive Vice Chancellor on 29 October, 2024, when some individuals within the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) alleged he was not yet a full professor at the time of his selection.

The lecturers under the aegis of the Concerned Lecturers of UNIZIK, led by Prof. Anthony Okoye, insisted that flagrant disobedience to court orders by the university’s management and governing council constitutes a direct assault on the rule of law, which is threatening to plunge the institution into a damaging governance crisis.

Acting on the allegations, the Federal Ministry of Education directed the dissolution of the Governing Council, removed Odoh from office and appointed a less than two-year PhD holder, Prof. Ikechebelu, as Acting Vice Chancellor.

Rather than heed the directive of the ministry, Odoh approached the National Industrial Court, Abuja Division, asserting that he was duly assessed, promoted to full professor with effect from 1 October 2015, and also confirmed and approved by the Governing Council of the Federal University of Gusau.

Odoh contended that the approval fully satisfied the statutory and procedural requirements for the office, UNIZIK proceeded in clear violation of judicial authority repudiated valid court orders expressly restraining interference to search for another vice chancellor.

As the matter progressed under active litigation and a subsisting consent judgment on the lawful procedure for filling such an office, and despite multiple orders of the Court duly served on the university, the management and governing council, initiated recruitment processes to fill an office, which the aggrieved lecturers said was clearly not vacant.

The concerned lecturers described the university’s conduct as a conscious provocation and escalation of conflict with the rule of law.

Last Monday, the National Industrial Court, while finally determining the matter, in a detailed ruling delivered by Hon. Justice E D Subilim, held that Odoh was validly appointed, properly evaluated by a panel of three professors and lawfully promoted to the rank of full professor ten years ago.

The court also averred that Odoh’s appointment renders every allegation of ineligibility legally groundless and consequently ordered full restoration of his statutory rights, privileges and entitlements as vice chancellor, even as it directed the Federal University of Gusau to issue him a written apology to be published in a national newspaper.

The Court also awarded N5 million in damages for the unlawful interference with his lawful entitlements.

Referencing the Suit Number NICN/Awk/51/2025, which challenged the unlawful advertisements of 13 and 16 September 2025 and Suit Number NICN/Awk/61/2025, which sought punitive consequences for the alleged willful disobedience of court orders, the petitioners urged the minister to intervene.

In their petition titled, “Urgent Appeal to Uphold Due Process in the Appointment of Vice Chancellor and Save Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka from Looming Crisis” the Concerned Lecturers called for immediate governmental intervention to halt what they described as a creeping institutional breakdown.

The petition read: “Despite these multiple pending litigations and subsisting court orders, the University’s Governing Council proceeded to fix Tuesday 11 November 2025 for the Senate selection, interview and appointment of a substantive vice chancellor.

“This action, in clear defiance of judicial authority, undermines the rule of law and exposes the university to the risk of future nullification of the appointment, which would inevitably plunge the institution into a prolonged and avoidable crisis.

“Honourable Minister, the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is firmly anchored on respect for the rule of law and due process. Nnamdi Azikiwe University, as a federal institution established by statute, must exemplify these principles.

“Disregarding a judiciary process or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction in a democratic setting like ours completely undermines the democracy which we have all laboured for.

“It is also unlawful and detrimental to the credibility of our governance structures and the confidence of stakeholders in the education sector.”