Professor Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, has reacted after being sacked by President Bola Tinubu as the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe, Awka, Anambra State.
The decision to relieve Odoh of his duties was communicated in a press release by the Ministry of Education on Wednesday.
He was dismissed over alleged misconduct and regulatory breaches.
The ministry claimed the council appointed an unqualified Vice Chancellor, leading to unrest and administrative issues at the institution.
Reacting to the development, Odoh while speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show programme on Thursday, stated that he has not received any official communication about his removal.
The embattled VC described his appointment as procedurally sound and dismissed the media reports as inconsistent with due process.
Despite the controversy, Odoh maintained his position as Vice Chancellor, asserting his intention to continue performing his duties.
He said, “The visitor set up this council. The council has not been invited by anybody. There’s no written communication either from anybody from the NUC or from the Ministry, asking the council to explain what has happened in Nnamdi Azikiwe University. I haven’t been communicated. There has been no information anywhere. There has been no panel of enquiry. No panel of investigation.
“All I heard yesterday was to see the information on the media space saying that I have been removed. I was not appointed through a press release. I was appointed by a constituted authority and I have your letter. So, I don’t understand. So, after this interview, I’m heading to the office. I haven’t committed any crime. I was appointed by a procedure, and the procedure is straightforward.”
In a statement on Wednesday, Odoh said:
“Already, the greatest question mark on the integrity of the purported letter is the fact that it never emanated from the President or Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation who issued the council members with appointment letters.
“It was rather strangely endorsed, not by a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, perhaps on behalf of the Honourable Minister, but by a Public Relations Director. This obviously casts strong doubts on the genuineness and intents of the said letter.
“Why is the ministry now desperately trying to also usurp the powers of the courts of competent jurisdictions in our land before whom are multiple lawsuits on this matter by running into a conclusion without evidence?
“Even when the vice-chancellor has made his academic credentials public, why is the ministry still referring to him as ‘unqualified?.
“Top among the many other flaws in the purported ‘sack letter’ is the fact that even the Council’s Chairman, who was duly appointed with a letter, has not been officially or formally communicated about this purported dissolution.
“We would wish to maintain that hence parties have remained in court, let the issues be expeditiously tested and established by the relevant provisions of our laws.
“The general public and particularly members of the university community are advised to go about their lawful and legitimate businesses as they have always maintained.”
