The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has suspended a lecturer who was
recently arrested over allegations of impregnating one of his students.
The University which had refused to act on a petition by the family of
the female student were forced to do so following media reports.
The accused, a senior lecturer at the Archeology Department of the UNN
was arrested by the police for allegedly impregnating a student and
going ahead to threaten her life.
The lecturer, Dr. Chigozie Odum, was alleged to have put the female
student, Onah Chinyere in a family way after coercing her into a sexual
intercourse.
Following a petition from the family lawyer of the female student, men
of the Crack Squad, Enugu State Police Command picked the lecturer up in
Nsukka from where he was moved to Enugu.
The lecturer has now been suspended indefinitely.
A letter obtained to that effect, dated February 15, was signed by Mrs.
Achiuwa F.C., Deputy Registrar of the University.
It read partly, “following the accusation of sexual harassment made
against you by a female student in the Department of Archeology and
Tourism, the Vice-Chancellor has directed that you be suspended from
duty immediately.
You are hereby so suspended from duty with immediate effect.
“You should stay away from your duty post until the final determination
of the allegation against you. You should handover any University
property in your custody to the Head of Department of Archaeology and
Tourism.
“The Bursar is by a copy of this letter advised to place you on half
salary pending final disposal action on your case,” she stated.