Sexual abuse: Anambra varsity gives lecturers one month to appeal dismissal

The management of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam in Anambra State, has given the sacked lecturers one month to appeal the decision against them.

The COOU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kate Omenugha, made this known during an interaction with journalists in Igbariam on Thursday, July 2, 2026.

It would be recalled that the university council, in June, approved the dismissal of Prof. Chike Osegbue, Prof. C. C. Nwabachili, Prof. Ifeoma Kakulu, Dr I. H. Iheukwumere, and Emeka Nwabunnia of the Department of Microbiology for various reasons.

Omenugha said the lecturers were sacked for various offences including sexual exploitation of students and ethical misconduct.

Omenugha added that due process was followed before the university council reached the decision.

On the sack of Prof. Osegbue, Omenugha said it had no connection with his participation in vice-chancellor selection process but purely for not teaching a postgraduate course assigned to him and refusal to appear before a panel instituted on the matter.

Anambra varsity sacks 5 lecturers over sexual abuse, extortion

The VC said she was not bothered by the court process instituted by Osegbue over the matter, adding that she did not deserve to be vilified for taking the hard but inevitable decision.

Omenugha said there was no truth in what she considered a coordinated media attack on her person before and after her appointment as vice-chancellor, noting that she would not be distracted in her mission to reposition the institution.

Omenugha said she came with the mission to give COOU viability, positive visibility, and value re-engineering.

She added that she was eminently qualified to be VC having been the second female Professor of Mass Communication in Nigeria, eight years as commissioner of education, six years as Head of Department of Mass Communication in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, and international consultant, among others.