The Federal University Gusau in Zamfara State has distanced itself from Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, the dismissed Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikwe University (UNIZIK) Awka, Anambra State, stating that he has never worked as a professor at the institution.
During a press briefing on Thursday evening in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State, the university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Muazu Abubakar, clarified that Dr. Odoh was neither employed nor appointed as a professor at the university.
He further explained that the letters Dr. Odoh is presenting—allegedly offering tenure as a professor and confirming his promotion to the role, dated April 30, 2015, and November 12, 2015—are fraudulent.
According to Professor Abubakar, these documents, which are purported to be certified true copies, were hastily signed by the former Registrar, Ibrahim Bawa Kaura, on November 8, 2024, six years after Dr. Odoh left the university’s service, and were part of an administrative fraud scheme involving Dr. Odoh, the former Vice Chancellor, and the Registrar.
“Arising from the spurious claim, the Federal University Gusau, has been inundated with enquiries about the true status of Dr. Odoh Bernard Ifeanyi regarding his appointment as a tenured Professor in the Department of Geology, grant of leave of absence and confirmation of appointment as a substantive professor by the Governing Council of the University.”
“In the case of Dr. Odoh Bernard Ifeanyi, the University notes as follows: That he did not submit any letter of acceptance of offer of appointment, that he did not undergo the statutory documentation, that even though Dr. Odoh was engaged as a visiting linkage staff in the Department of Geology of the University, and dubiously enrolled into the institution’s payroll from July 2014 to August 2015, he neither assumed duty nor taught any course since the inception of the Department in the 2014/2015 academic session.”
“The so-called letters of offer of tenure of appointment as Professor and confirmation of promotion to the post of Professor, dated 30th April 2015 and 12th November 2015, being paraded by Dr. Odoh Bernard Ifeanyi and purported to be certified true copies hurriedly endorsed by Ibrahim Bawa Kaura, former Registrar of the Federal University, dated November 8, 2024, six solid years after the latter left the services of the Federal University Gusau, are products of administrative fraud orchestrated by Dr. Odoh, working in cahoots with the former Vice Chancellor of the University and the Registrar”
Professor Abubakar stated that Dr. Odoh’s alleged offer of appointment as a tenure staff member and confirmation of promotion to professor was poorly handled, fraudulent, and completely lacking in due process, highlighting its illegal nature.
He emphasized that there is no official documentation to support the claims surrounding Dr. Odoh’s controversial employment at the Federal University Gusau.
“The whole charade was packaged and executed by the former Vice Chancellor and the former Registrar, without recourse to extant rules and due process for reasons not known to law and common sense”.
“Further proof of the desperation to perpetuate such illegality is the impersonation and usurpation of the duties of the current Registrar of the University by the former Registrar, Ibrahim Bawa Kaura, who procured a fake stamp to certify Dr. Odoh’s equally fake documents as true copies on November 8, 2024, six years after his disengagement from the University.”
“The Management of the Federal University Gusau, wishes to state in unequivocal terms that from available records, Dr. Odoh Bernard Ifeanyi is not and has never been a tenure staff of the University, let alone being confirmed as a professor by the institution.”
“Whatever claim to the contrary by Dr. Odoh is nothing but the antics of a drowning man who is hell-bent on using the good name of the Federal University Gusau, to give vent to his desperate ambition to become the Vice Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, through subterfuge.” Professor Abubakar concluded.
On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, and the removal of Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, the newly appointed Vice Chancellor, and Mrs. Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike, the registrar.
A statement signed by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga revealed that the decision to sack the governing council and officials followed reports that the council had illegally appointed an unqualified vice-chancellor, bypassing due process.