COOU Gives Dismissed Lecturers One-Month Window to Appeal Sack
The Management of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, Anambra State, has granted members of staff recently dismissed by the institution's Governing Council a one-month period to appeal the decision.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Kate Omenugha, disclosed this on Thursday during an interaction with journalists at the university's Igbariam campus.
Omenugha said the university remained committed to fairness, transparency and due process, noting that the affected staff members were entitled to exhaust the institution's internal appeal mechanism in line with the university's regulations.
According to her, the Governing Council followed all laid-down disciplinary procedures before approving the dismissals, adding that the one-month appeal period was intended to ensure that every affected member of staff had the opportunity to seek a review of the decision.
Speaking on the dismissal of Prof. Chike Osegbue of the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, Omenugha dismissed suggestions that the action was connected to his participation in the university's Vice-Chancellor selection process.
She maintained that the decision was based solely on disciplinary issues, alleging that Osegbue failed to teach a postgraduate course assigned to him and declined to appear before a panel constituted by the university to investigate the matter.
The Vice-Chancellor said she was not concerned by the legal action instituted by Osegbue, expressing confidence that the university acted within the law and in accordance with its established procedures.
She also dismissed what she described as coordinated media attacks against her before and after her appointment, saying such distractions would not deter her administration from pursuing reforms aimed at repositioning the institution.
Omenugha said her administration was focused on delivering what she described as "viability, positive visibility and value re-engineering" for the university through improved governance, academic excellence, infrastructural development and institutional reforms.
She said her appointment was backed by extensive academic and administrative experience, having served as one of Nigeria's earliest Professors of Mass Communication, former Commissioner for Education in Anambra State, former Head of the Department of Mass Communication at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and an international education consultant.
The Vice-Chancellor said the university was implementing environmental sustainability projects, including the development of a leisure park, the establishment of an economic tree orchard and a target to plant one million trees within five years to create a more conducive and eco-friendly learning environment.
She also expressed concern over security challenges around the university's host communities and appealed to individuals and corporate organisations to support the institution through the construction of additional hostel accommodation to encourage more students to reside on campus.
Omenugha commended the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, for what she described as his administration's sustained investment in the university, particularly the ongoing infrastructure development and transformation of the institution's Uli campus.
Recall that the University's 8th Governing Council, at its 122nd statutory meeting held on June 12, 2026, approved the dismissal of five members of staff over various disciplinary matters.
Those affected include Prof. C. C. Nwabachili, immediate past Dean of the Faculty of Law; Prof. Chike Osegbue of the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences; Dr. I. H. Iheukwumere and Mr. Emeka Nwabunnia, both of the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Uli Campus; and Mrs. Ifeoma Kakulu, a Principal Assistant Registrar who served as the Faculty of Law Examination Officer at the Igbariam Campus at the time the alleged offences were committed.
According to the university, the dismissals followed findings arising from internal disciplinary proceedings over allegations of sexual exploitation and harassment of students, intimidation, extortion, ethical misconduct and other disciplinary infractions.
The Governing Council reaffirmed its commitment to discipline, accountability and institutional integrity, warning that any action capable of undermining the university's reputation or violating its ethical standards would attract appropriate sanctions.
It also pledged to continue promoting a safe, transparent, accountable and forward-looking academic environment consistent with the university's vision of building a globally competitive institution anchored on excellence in teaching, research, innovation and character.
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