In a dramatic unfolding of events, a Nigerian based NGO, YOHESOR has raised several questions regarding the drama concerning the iilegal sack of Professor Benard Odoh as the Vice Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
Other matters raised by the NGO include the sacking of the properly constituted Governing Council led by Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe as well as the credibility of the current Registrar of the Federal University of Gusau who it accused of doing a hatchet job.
YOHESOR argued that the situation Professor Bernard Odoh found himself was merely the creation of a conspiracy that stretches beyond academic boundaries into the realm of political intrigue and institutional manipulation.
On the allegations raised by the registrar of FUGUS claiming that he, (Odoh’s)employment and professorial appointment were fraudulent. The NGO suggested that owing to the documents available to it, these accusations are being met with strong pushback from former university officials and external assessors who maintain that Odoh’s credentials and appointment followed due process, also according to court-certified documents reveal that Odoh was legitimately employed by the university, with payroll records from the Federal Government’s Electronic Funds Transfer system explicitly listing his salary. Sworn affidavits from previous university leadership, including the former Vice-Chancellor and Registrar, affirm the legality of his employment and subsequent promotion.
The NGO highlighted that the controversy takes on a political dimension when considering Odoh’s history as a former Secretary to the Ebonyi State Government and later a gubernatorial candidate under APGA, noting that Odoh’s political career may have unsettled some of his rivals then which has then made him a potential target for powerful adversaries. YOHESOR reminded Nigerians that Odoh had survived multiple assassination attempts during his political journey, with reports indicating the loss of twenty-eight loyalists who till now havent gotten justice.
YOHESOR wondered if this was not the handiwork of a number of high-profile political figures, including a former Governor of Ebonyi State and officials at the Federal Ministry of Education, raising again further questions about whether the current campaign against Odoh is a calculated political maneuver designed to neutralize a potential political threat.
Adding complexity to the saga is the apparent resistance from the Ministry of Education despite a court order mandating the appointment process for a substantive Vice-Chancellor, the Permanent Secretary reportedly refused to send representatives to the election. This defiance has raised concerns about potential external interference in university governance.
The NGO also wondered why the Governing Council led by Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe had been dissolved for obeying a court order. Where was the wrong in the Chairman of the University Council
obeying a court-ordered directive to proceed with appointments.
YOHESOR described the hurried intervention by Mr. Tunde Alausa the Minister of Education in the affair as an affront to the principles of university autonomy and academic foundations.
YOHESOR beleives that Professor Odoh may be a victim of institutional opportunism – used to enhance the university’s (FUGUS) accreditation prospects and then discarded when it was convenient for them. The Registrar’s allegations appear increasingly questionable, with multiple official records contradicting claims of fraudulent employment.
It beleives that as the controversy continues to unfold, it has become more than an academic dispute. It represents a critical examination of systemic dysfunction, the abuse of power, and the challenges facing institutional integrity in Nigeria.
It finally urged Nigerians, particulaly members of the academia to demand accountability and transparency, hoping that the truth will ultimately prevail in this complex and contentious saga.