By Fidel Ozugha
The controversial Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Dr Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh has been removed from office.
This is contained in a letter signed by Boriowo Folasade, a Director of Press and Public Relations in the Federal Ministry of Education dated 20th November, 2024, part of which reads thus ”The Honourable Minister of Education has also announced the removal of Prof Bernard Odoh, the Vice-Chancellor who was illegally appointed by the dissolved by the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
”In accordance with the University’s founding act, an Acting Vice-Chancellor will be appointed, and new Governing Council for the University will be constituted as soon as possible to ensure propergovernanceand adherence to the law”
The press release captioned Dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, stated that, ”The Federal Government has announced the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State.”
The reason for the dissolution was given as ”grave breaches of the laws governing the University and disregard for lawful directives from the Federal Ministry of Education. It was upon this that the Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa removed the following members of the dissolved Council; the Pro-Chancellor, Amb Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, Hon. Hafiz Oladejo; Hon, Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon and Rtd Gen Funsho Oyeneyin.
According to the Minister, the ”urgent measures (of dissolving and sacking the Council) were needed to prevent further deterioration of the situation at the school. The ”illegal decisions taken by the Governing Council posed a significant risk of further destabilizing the Institution.
It will be recalled that the, in a letter dated 1st November written by the Permanent Secretary and signed by Mrs. R. G. Ilyasu, the appointment was declared ‘null and void’ The reason for the declaration was given as ”a gross disregard to constituted authority and is not in line with the extant provisions.
However, the letter of the dissolution is silent on who to be in charge of the day to day administration of institution. Although the Registrar of the University, Barr Mrs R. I. Nwokike, is not included among those
