COOU Crisis: Osegbue Urges Court To Set Aside Suspension
Prof. Chike Osegbue of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam has prayed the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) to set aside his suspension by the management.
Osegbue, a professor of Political Science and a top candidate in the recent Vice Chancellor selection process is challenging his suspension and demanding damages amounting to N2,620,000,000 from the Vice Chancellor and other members of the institution.
Defendants in the suit marked NICN/AWK/30/2026 are Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Governing Council of COOU, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, Prof. Kate Omenugha, Dr Agary Nwokoye, Prof. Azikiwe Onwughalu and the Registrar.
Osegbue was suspended in January for allegedly not teaching a course Pol/PSC.811:environmental Politics and Sustainable Development to postgraduate students.
When the matter was called up for mention on Thursday, the Plaintiff through his Counsel, Kaine Ananwune in his filing urged the the court to determine whether the students in question (2024/2025 MSC) were valid students of the University in view of the University Law, Academic Regulations for Postgraduate studies and and NUC Regulations,
He prayed the court to declare every disciplinary action taken against him were in defiance to relevant laws of the University and constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Counsel to the respondents asked the leave of court to file out of time which was granted.
M.C. Udechukwu represented Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Prof. Kate Omenugha, Dr Agary Nwokoye and the Registrar while O.M. Ezenwa-Ohaeto represented the Governing Council of the University.
Odinkalu and Onwualu were not represented
The presiding Judge, Hon. Justice John Targema granted the application and adjourned the matter to Nov. 24 for hearing.
