The recently removed Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK), Prof. Bernard Odoh, has firmly rejected his dismissal through a press statement issued by the presidency, claiming that the process lacked due procedure. In an exclusive interview on Arise TV, Odoh emphasized that he should not be removed without proper investigation by a governing council.

Odoh’s reaction comes after a statement by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, detailing the Federal Government’s intervention following allegations that the university‘s governing council had appointed him without following legal protocols. The presidency’s statement highlighted concerns over the council’s disregard for the institution’s governing laws during the selection process.

However, Odoh insisted he was appointed through the right channels and was not going to accept his removal based on a press release. “You can’t fire someone you didn’t employ,” he said, emphasizing that the governing council, which was appointed by the President, followed due process when engaging him as Vice-Chancellor. He further criticized the method of his dismissal, stating that there was no panel of inquiry, and that such a decision should be made by the council, not via a press release from the presidency.

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Odoh also addressed ongoing debates surrounding his academic qualifications, particularly the claims regarding his professorship. He dismissed these allegations, noting that his records had been confirmed by the Sokoto State High Court, and accused certain individuals of attempting to tamper with his credentials.

The former VC also expressed concerns about what he viewed as politically motivated actions behind his removal, suggesting that his ethnic background and the perception of his state, Ebonyi, as being of “third-class” status played a role in the opposition to his position. “I am an alumnus of this university, and it pains me to see its destruction,” Odoh said, pledging to continue supporting the university’s operations despite the ongoing turmoil.

The controversy over his removal has drawn attention from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which has accused the university’s governing council of illegal actions in Odoh’s appointment. The union has called for the dissolution of the council and has demanded an investigation into the entire process.