Prof. Ifeanyi Odinye, a lecturer in the Department of Chinese Studies at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has been placed on half pay and suspended for three months by the administration due to allegations of sexual misconduct and violations of the university's general and academic regulations.

However, the university postponed considering the accusation of sexual harassment against the lecturer in a press release issued on Monday and signed by Aloysius Attah, the institution's Director of Information and Public Relations. Attah stated that more research was necessary to determine the facts.

The judgements were made in response to the preliminary report of a six-person Special Investigative Panel that the university had established to look into claims related to an event involving Department of Chinese Studies employees and students.

Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, the vice-chancellor, received the panel's preliminary report on Friday, which was presided over by Prof. Emmanuel Obidimma, the provost of the College of Postgraduate Studies.

Recall that the school administration was made aware of the alleged sexual misconduct after a widely shared video appeared online two weeks ago, showing some of the students physically abusing and mistreating the lecturer on school property after he was allegedly caught molesting a female student.

Videos of the incident, which happened in a university setting, went popular on social media and sparked a lot of responses, condemnation, and demands for a full inquiry.

Following the incident, the institution's management expressed profound sorrow and vehemently denounced the use of violence, self-help, or any kind of jungle justice in any situation. As a result, the university administration ordered a prompt, thorough, and unbiased investigation of the occurrence.

However, Attah stated in the statement on Monday that Chikamso Okechukwu, the student involved in the regrettable occurrence, has been reported to the student's examination misconduct committee under the Vise Chancellor's direction.

Source