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BREAKING! UNIZIK VC Tussle: Odoh Drags FUGUS To Court Over Denial of Professorship
Embattled and sacked 7th Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK), Professor Benard Odoh has instituted legal actions against the management of Federal University, Gusau (FUGUS) over alleged denial of his professorial appointment and employment status.
In a statement on Wednesday, signed by his Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Charles Otu, he said Odoh instituted the legal action at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), with suit number NICN/ ABJ/ 434/ 2024.
He said, though no date has been fixed for the hearing, Odoh will 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, accusing the management of being in league with politicians to nail and pitch him not just against the academic community, but the rest of Nigeria and the world.”
The statement read: “In the past seventy-two hours or more, the print, broadcast and social media outlets have been flooded with reports emanating from a press conference addressed by the Vice-Chancellor of Federal University, Gusau, Professor Muazu Abubakar, wherein he claimed that the embattled Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Professor Benard Odoh, was never in the employment of the university and neither was he a tenured professor at the institution.
“He also went further to allege that, “all documents pertaining to Odoh’s claims were fraudulently obtained through administrative fraud working in cahoots with the Registrar and the former Vice-Chancellor 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 Management claimed
“According to him, “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”.
“Abubakar had accused Odoh of colluding with former university officials to forge documents, including backdated letters of appointment and promotions that were certified years after those officials had left office”, Prof. Muazu stated.
“The import of the hefty allegations above, also flowing as an official position after an earlier rejoinder on the same subject matter referencing a Vanguard publication published some hours earlier by the same authorities at the FUGUs, is that any discerning reader who read between the lines could espy that it was masterfully tilted towards scoring what seemed like a political point than a usual factual and academic tone. Perhaps, with counter facts and evidences to the several claims earlier made by Odoh and backed by copious documents already in the public domain, this clear observation may have been viewed differently by the Nigerian public.
“In other words, one strongly suspects that those desperate to rid Odoh out of office and perhaps, further cause him public shame, ridicule and embarrassment are now even more desperate to damage and utterly destroy his academic, social and political reputations in what obviously could be understood as a deliberately orchestrated and mafiaso media trial, similar to what happened to the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, who has now been eventually washed clean by the Court. The sad bane of Nigerian media trial is that once a person’s reputation has been tarnished, it is hardly ever restored even if finally cleared by the courts. This is why we call for diligent checks, confirmations and the professional ensuring of balanced reportage by the Nigerian mass media in this matter.
“In one tone, the management of the institution sounded as though they had a grouse and scores to settle with the pioneer administration led by the former Vice-Chancellor, Professor P. O. Okeke, who employed Odoh, including the pioneer Registrar of FUGUS, Ibrahim Bawa Kaura. In another breath, they sounded like some academic or intellectual ‘terrorists’ who were under intense pressure to achieve a determined end with a perfected script handed over to them; all, desperately desirous to nail Professor Odoh and pitch him not just against the academic community but the rest of Nigeria and the world.”
He added: “All these are pathetically strange and having carefully painted the above background, it is therefore now trite that the following posers and observations are made before the general public, even as he shall leave no stone unturned to seek legal redress in a court of competent jurisdiction on these very weighty and damaging allegations against his person and unblemished records:
“1. That every facts, documents, evidences, including Court depositions made by Professor 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 Professor 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.
“2. 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.
“3. 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.
“4. 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.
“5. 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.
“6. Reading the authorities of FUGUS battle to lay claims to an alleged gross violation of the Evidence Act in the documents obtained and certified for and on behalf of Professor Odoh by the former Registrar, one is disturbed about how the same institution that already claim it will challenge the documents in Court were desperate to also be the judge in their own case. For the sake of clarity, Section 104 of the Evidence Act, 2011 is unambiguous: (1) Every public officer having the custody of a public document which any person has a right to inspect shall give that person on demand a copy of it on payment of the legal fees prescribed in that respect, together with a certificate written at the foot of such copy that it is a true copy of such document or part of it as the case may be. It is clear in reply to their claim of non-payment of legal fees that no law mandates the former Registrar, Kaura to collect fees for a document under his custody in order to prove the authenticity of the documents of a staff employed during his tenure as a Registrar of the University. This becomes more understandable given the fact that the current management claims that Odoh’s records are not in their custody. Why cry foul over the production, certification of the same documents without payment of legal fees by the man who superintended over the Registry? Does absence of the payment of legal fees vitiate the genuineness and authenticity of the said documents? These and many more are the gamut of burdens now resting on the shoulders of the academic ‘mugus’ in FUGUS who we fall short of calling out as ‘academic or intellectual ‘terrorists’ or ‘bandits’ and they really have to prove these to Nigerians and the world during trial!
“7. Lastly, Professor Odoh wishes to extend his heartfelt regards, first; to his academic mentors and mentees, his numerous fans and supporters and indeed Nigerians at large who have kept fate with him in this dangerously trying and desperate times. They should recollect that Professor Odoh had been audited 32 times after his resignation as SSG of Ebonyi State by a government insipidly desperate to indict him but found him not wanting in any way or capacity. Truth, as always will soon overtake their desperate falsehoods!
“Thank you all for your wise counsels, kind words, prayers and well wishes. As he would always note: “What is ahead of us is yet far greater than what is behind us”!”
Hon. Obi Aguocha, member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, is facing mounting criticism and backlash over his video in which he is seen singing and vibing to a sexually vulgar and demeaning song against women.
In the video, which is currently making the rounds online and in Ikwuano/Umuahia WhatsApp groups, Aguocha is clearly seen singing and enjoying the Ogele cultural song, whose lyrics reduce women to objects of sexual gratification.
The footage was reportedly recorded at a public gathering that had families in attendance, including children, a detail that has intensified the backlash.
The song, performed in the Ogele cultural music tradition associated with communities in Abia State, has sparked outrage among women and women’s groups who say the lyrics are not just vulgar but deeply degrading.
“This is not culture. This is humiliation dressed in tradition,” said Mrs. Ngozi Ibe, a women’s leader in Umuahia North. “We have watched the video. The words used against women in that song are not the kind of thing any serious leader should be associated with. A lawmaker representing our constituency should be defending our dignity, not promoting content that strips women of it.”
Another woman, a trader in Umuahia South who identified herself simply as Madam Grace, said the video had caused deep anger among market women.
“We heard about it and we watched it. Many of us were shocked. You cannot claim to represent women and then be seen singing and vibing to a song where women are being insulted in the most vulgar way. We are not laughing. We are insulted,” she said.
A coalition of women’s groups in the constituency, under the aegis of the Ikwuano/Umuahia Concerned Women’s Forum, also issued a statement condemning the video.
“The lyrics go beyond ordinary expressions of affection. They employ vulgar sexual references that reduce women to objects and make our sexuality the subject of degrading entertainment. For a serving federal lawmaker to be seen actively singing and enjoying such content is a serious indictment on his judgment and his respect for the women he claims to represent,” the group said.
The women’s forum also expressed concern over the presence of children at the event.
“What message does it send to our children when a leader they look up to is seen celebrating a song that reduces women to sexual objects? This is not the kind of example we should be setting for the next generation,” the statement added.
“Ogele is our heritage. But heritage is not a licence for vulgarity. Culture should uplift, not humiliate. We call on Hon. Aguocha to explain his involvement in this video and to apologise to the women and families of Ikwuano/Umuahia,” the group said.
The controversy raises questions about the judgment expected of a public officeholder and the appropriateness of associating with content that many women and families could reasonably find offensive and humiliating.
Aguocha has not responded to requests for comment as of press time.
News
National Assembly Receives Proposals for New LGAs as Lagos Seeks 37, Akwa Ibom Missing from Lis
The National Assembly has reportedly received proposals for the creation of additional local government areas (LGAs) across Nigeria, with Lagos State seeking 37 new councils, while Akwa Ibom State is conspicuously missing from a published list of submissions.
The proposals, according to a report by The Insight Lens Project, cover various communities across the country’s six geopolitical zones and reflect demands for administrative restructuring, improved grassroots representation and better access to government services.
However, the complete list of submissions has not been independently verified, and the proposals do not constitute approval for the creation of new local government areas.
In the North-East, the reported requests include Bidoma and Michika South in Adamawa State, Boi-Tapshin in Bauchi, Banki in Borno, Cham in Gombe, Gudi in Yobe and Wukari in Taraba State.
In the North-West, the proposed areas reportedly include locations in Jigawa, Piriga in Kaduna, Dankama in Katsina, as well as Moriki and other communities in Zamfara State.
The North-Central zone also features in the reported submissions, with proposals covering Agasha and other communities in Benue State, alongside several areas in Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau states.
In the South-East, the list includes Abiriba in Abia State, proposed councils around Obosi in Anambra State, several communities in Ebonyi State and numerous proposed local government areas in Imo State.
The South-West proposals reportedly include Eso-Obe and Gbonyin in Ekiti State, Ogijo and other areas in Ogun State, as well as additional proposed councils in Osun and Oyo states.
Lagos State stands out with a reported request for 37 new local government areas, although the published report did not provide the names and proposed boundaries of all the councils.
In the South-South, the reported proposals include Akassa and other communities in Bayelsa State, Ughievwen in Delta State, several areas in Edo State, and Ataba, Evo and Alesa in Rivers State.
Cross River State is also listed, with proposed councils around Mbube and Calabar. Akwa Ibom State, however, has no clearly identified entry in the published list, raising questions about whether the state submitted proposals or was omitted from the report.
Constitutional Requirements
The creation of new local government areas is governed by Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, which prescribes a series of procedures involving consultations, a referendum, legislative approval and the submission of relevant records to the National Assembly.
The constitutional process must be completed before newly created councils can be recognised and reflected in the relevant constitutional schedules.
Consequently, proposals submitted by states or communities do not automatically translate into legally recognised local government areas.
The reported development comes amid broader constitutional review efforts by the National Assembly. In October 2025, the legislature reported receiving 278 requests for additional local government areas and 55 proposals for the creation of new states.
Nevertheless, the specific state-by-state submissions contained in the latest published list, including Lagos State’s reported demand for 37 additional councils and the absence of Akwa Ibom, remain subject to confirmation through official National Assembly records.
The proposals, if confirmed, could reopen discussions on administrative boundaries, grassroots governance and the constitutional procedures required for the creation of additional local government areas in Nigeria.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The Mayor of Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Ezennia Emelie Ibekwe, has issued a stern warning to traders and residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse and blockage of drainage channels, threatening sanctions against those who fail to comply with sanitation directives.
Ibekwe, who handed down the warning during an inspection of Ajasa Market, expressed displeasure over the deteriorating environmental conditions in parts of the commercial city, describing the situation as unacceptable and detrimental to healthy living and business activities.
During the inspection, the Mayor observed that refuse and other waste materials generated from market activities were being dumped into drainage channels, obstructing the free flow of water and exposing traders, residents and their properties to flooding.
“This practice contributes to flooding whenever it rains, putting traders, residents and their properties at risk.
“An environment of this nature is not conducive to business and healthy living. It does not speak well of a commercial city that houses one of the largest markets in sub-Saharan Africa,” he stated.
Consequently, Ibekwe directed traders and other persons responsible for the blocked drainage channels to ensure their immediate clearance, giving them until the following day to comply.
He further announced that he would return to the market for another inspection to ascertain the level of compliance with the directive.
“People should be alive to their responsibilities by ensuring a clean and healthy environment. Government alone cannot handle this effectively without the active participation of residents and traders.
“I am going to come back here to see what you have done,” he warned.
The Mayor stressed that the sanitation directive was not restricted to Ajasa Market but extended to all markets within Onitsha North Local Government Area.
He consequently charged market leaders to take responsibility for enforcing environmental sanitation regulations within their respective markets, warning that the council would no longer tolerate practices capable of worsening flooding and environmental degradation.
“It is not only Ajasa Market but all the markets in Onitsha North Local Government Area. Market leaders should ensure that this directive is not compromised,” Ibekwe declared.
The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, has commissioned a community market in Afi, Ikom II State Constituency, as part of his commitment to sustainable development and improved living conditions in rural communities.
The project, facilitated and completed by the Speaker, was identified as one of the priority needs of the community following consultations by the Constituency Needs Assessment Team established by Ayambem to evaluate infrastructure and identify projects that would directly benefit the people.
The team was mandated to identify critical infrastructure capable of improving the livelihoods of residents and promoting sustainable economic growth across the constituency.
According to community members, the absence of a suitable trading environment had been a major challenge for years, forcing traders to conduct business under harsh weather conditions, including rain and intense sunshine.
Speaking on behalf of the community, the village head, Chief Etta Ekawor, commended Ayambem for the intervention, describing the market as a miracle and a blessing that would transform the fortunes of the people.
In his remarks, Ayambem expressed appreciation to the Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, for his continued support for people-oriented projects and development initiatives across rural communities in the state.
He also thanked the people for their patience, support for his leadership and commitment to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Speaker was accompanied by the member representing Yala I State Constituency, Hon. Brian Odey; the Vice Chairman of Ikom Local Government Area, Hon. Maurice Ndome; and the Assistant Financial Secretary of the APC in Cross River State, Hon. Akanya Agbor.
Other stakeholders from Nde Ward who attended the commissioning included the former Vice Chairman of Ikom Local Government Area, Hon. Asinya Ntan, and the Community Relations Officer, Hon. Abang Neji.
Matthew Okache
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker
October 22, 2026
News
Holy Ghost Transformation: How Enugu North Chairman Ibenaku Onoh Ended Years of Traffic Chaos, Roadside Trading
Driving through Holy Ghost and Chris Chemist Roundabout in Enugu metropolis was, until recently, a nightmare many motorists dreaded. Those who dared to navigate the busy commercial corridor often had unpleasant tales to tell.
Beyond the chaotic traffic situation, the area was notorious for rowdy and unorganised roadside trading, indiscriminate parking, commercial buses competing for passengers and the activities of illegal levy collectors who allegedly extorted motorists under various guises, including car radio licences and local government levies.
It was a situation that appeared to have defied successive interventions, leaving residents and motorists wondering whether sanity could ever return to one of Enugu’s busiest commercial districts.
Onoh, Executive Chairman Enugu North
Today, however, the Chairman of Enugu North Local Government Area, Hon. Ibenaku Onoh, appears to have achieved what many considered almost impossible.
Through a combination of political will, infrastructural adjustments and sustained enforcement, the once-chaotic Holy Ghost corridor has witnessed a remarkable transformation, with improved traffic flow and a significant reduction in the disorder that previously characterised the area.
Onoh explained that his decision to tackle the perennial congestion was inspired by the massive road rehabilitation, urban renewal and aesthetic improvements being undertaken across Enugu metropolis by Governor Peter Mbah.
According to him, having witnessed the governor’s determination to give Enugu a modern outlook through infrastructural development and beautification, he considered it necessary for the local government to key into the vision by sanitising Holy Ghost and its adjoining commercial areas.
He noted that it would amount to a contradiction for the state government to invest heavily in road rehabilitation and urban renewal while one of the city’s busiest commercial corridors remained overwhelmed by traffic congestion, illegal trading and environmental disorder.
Consequently, Onoh identified the Holy Ghost traffic situation as one of his administration’s immediate priorities upon assuming office.
He disclosed that he visited the area four times within his first week in office to personally assess the challenges before approaching Governor Mbah with a proposal to remove the Chris Chemist Roundabout.
“When I came on board, I paid attention to that area. In my first week of working here, I went there like four times. And I knew that was the problem. So I told the governor that the Chris Chemist Roundabout was a problem and that it had to go. The governor told me, go ahead and do whatever you want,” he recalled.
Armed with the governor’s approval, the council commenced the removal of the roundabout, expanded and asphalted portions of the road, and redesigned the median separating traffic moving into and out of Holy Ghost.
The chairman explained that the median had virtually become a market, with traders occupying every available space and contributing to the perennial congestion.
Rather than merely displacing the traders, his administration reconstructed the median in a manner that made it uncomfortable and unsuitable for roadside trading, thereby discouraging their return.
He also acknowledged the contribution of the new Holy Ghost transport terminal constructed by the Mbah administration, noting that commercial buses which previously clustered along the roads had been moved into the facility.
“The terminal has also helped. We thank the governor for that terminal. Some of these buses that used to cluster the road, we have now pushed them into the terminal,” he stated.
But beyond the physical transformation, Onoh identified sustained enforcement as the greatest challenge in restoring sanity to the area.
He explained that roadside traders and other operators frequently attempted to return to prohibited locations despite repeated efforts to remove them.
According to him, the situation required not only determination but also the establishment of a legal framework to deal with persistent offenders.
Consequently, the council approached the Chief Judge and subsequently enacted a by-law establishing a mobile court for the local government.
Onoh said the court provided a legal mechanism for prosecuting offenders, ensuring that resistance to enforcement would no longer end in mere confrontations with council officials.
He further alleged that some individuals had attempted to compromise enforcement efforts by offering monthly financial inducements, insisting that his administration would not sacrifice its objectives for personal gains.
“For me, I know exactly what I want, and once I see what I don’t want, I know I don’t want it. I think it is also that discipline, strength and consistency that have made us sustain it for as long as we have,” he said.
The chairman disclosed that enforcement remained a daily exercise, recalling how he recently directed his Chief Security Officer to remove wheelbarrows that had resurfaced around the council premises.
He maintained that without consistency, the gains recorded in Holy Ghost could easily be reversed by individuals determined to reclaim public spaces for unauthorised commercial activities.
Meanwhile, the council has shifted attention to another major environmental challenge in the area: indiscriminate waste disposal.
Onoh disclosed that his administration recently took delivery of about 35 large waste bins procured from Lagos, which would be deployed across the commercial district.
He explained that additional metal fabrication was being carried out to make the bins compatible with evacuation trucks operated by the Enugu State Waste Management Authority (ESWAMA).
According to him, the initiative would provide traders, residents and commuters with designated refuse disposal points before the council intensifies prosecution of environmental offenders.
“People just come and dump their waste on the road. What I have said is to give them an option. I will give you an option of where you are supposed to put waste. But when you don’t do it, by the time we take you to mobile court and have you arraigned there, you will know that you had an option,” he explained.
For motorists familiar with the old Holy Ghost, the difference is striking. What was once regarded as an unavoidable traffic nightmare is gradually becoming an example of how local government leadership can complement the urban renewal agenda of the state government.
For Onoh, however, the achievement is not merely about removing a roundabout or displacing roadside traders. It is about ensuring that the massive investments being made by Governor Mbah in transforming the Enugu capital are complemented by discipline, environmental responsibility and orderliness at the grassroots.
The challenge now is to sustain the transformation and ensure that the disorder which once defined the Holy Ghost and Chris Chemist corridor does not return.
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