Ex- UNIZIK VC, Odoh drags FUGUS to court over denial of professorship

By Daniel Usman 

The former Vice-Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, UNIZIK, Benard Odoh has dragged the management of the Federal University, Gusau, FUGUS, to court over alleged denial of his professorial appointment and employment status.

Odoh made this known in a statement signed and issued to newsmen by his Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Charles Otu, said he instituted the legal action at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), with suit number NICN/ ABJ/ 434/ 2024.

Recall that the embattled ex-7th vice chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Unizik, Odoh was sacked by the presidency, through the minister of education, Tunji Alaussa as a result of alleged issuance of fake professorial appointment by the management of Federal University, Gusau, FUGUS.

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Odoh, in a seven paragraphs petition, vowed never to leave no stone unturned to seek legal redress in a court of competent jurisdiction, “on the very weighty and damaging allegations against his person and unblemished records.

He accused the management of the Federal University, Gusau, FUGUS, of conniving with politicians to nail and pitch him, not just against the academic community, but the rest of Nigeria and the world.”

The statement reads in part: “That every facts, documents, evidences, including Court depositions made by Odoh so far in the matter were never fraudulently obtained or manufactured but were availed me upon diligent enquiries to those who held sway when he worked with and  for the said institution. 

“To further buttress this, he had earlier written to the Pro-Chancellor of the university to cause clarifications on the matter so as to clear the name and reputations of both institutions and particularly Odoh, whose image and accomplishments both as a former public office holder of high standing and a thorough-bred academic has been at the epicenter of the entire storm. May we place on record that Odoh has never forged, falsified or caused to be altered, any document even when in public office.

“That despite officially receiving those correspondences from Odoh and even acknowledging receiving the same, no official reply has been sent to him either in a hard or a soft copy. Rather, the university for the same strange reasons claimed they have no records of his files and other staff profiles in their records.

“It is therefore now very clear from their reactions in the media that there are some fifth columnists working for some other pecuniary interests on the matter to not only indict Odoh but rubbish his long-standing reputation.

” Both the current Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar have failed in the estimation of reasonable minds to tow a path of academic professionalism all in their desperate attempts to implicate and indict Odoh at all costs and to a large extent, the institution through their insinuations that he was issued with a ‘fraudulent’ employment and promotion letters as a Professor. 

“Odoh wishes to restate his earlier submissions that he was a Staff of the Federal University, Gusau with Staff number: SP. 048. And he was consequently and duly captured for payment of salaries by the Bursary Unit of the institution only after he had met every other condition precedent set out in the terms and conditions of service by the institution. 

“This is evident in his payslips done via the NIPPs by the Federal Ministry of Finance with a payment description which clearly reads: ‘ Salary from the Federal University, Gusau.

“He never colluded with the Bursar or any other Staff for that matter as insinuated by the Management of the institution to cause to be paid or for any other matter whatsoever.

 “On the claims that, Odoh was not appointed a Professor by the University, it is trite to reassert that he was not only promoted to the apex rank but was duly assessed by three assessors; out of which two are still alive and active, namely: Professors P.O. Okeke (now retired) formerly of UNIZIK and the Enugu State Universities and Isaac Aiyegbogun of Edo State University, Ekpoma. 

“The erudite duo, disturbed by the allegations against Odoh in public domain have separately approached the High Courts in Enugu and Ekpoma respectively and deposed to affidavits attesting to all the processes in my assessment and consequent promotion. All these, which are already Court certified documents, would be tendered in the course of our litigation” he stated.