COOU: Omenugha Extends Suspension Of Top VC Candidate
The Vice Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Prof Kate Omenugha has extended the suspension handed down to Prof. Chike Osegbue by three months effective April 14 in a bid to keep him further away from the institution environment.
The University extended the suspension through a letter signed by Mr Chris Obi, the Registrar of the institution dated April 13.
Osegbue who was leading candidate in the last Vice Chancellorship selection exercise was suspended for three months on the allegation of not teaching a course assigned to him.
The letter said the additional three months extension was to enable the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee conclude its investigation on your case.
“All the restrictions and directives pertaining to your initial suspension as contained in my memorandum to you dated Jan. 7 also apply to this extension,” it said.
The plot to suspend Osegbue started with a query by Dr Agary Nwokoye, the Ag. Head, Department of Political Science on Sept. 9, 2025 which purported that Oseghue failed to teach PSC 811, a postgraduate course.
This was followed by another query by the Registrar, Chris Obi on the directive of the Vice Chancellor dated Dec. 3, 2025 regarding the same subject matter.
“Sequel to your response to the query issued you dated Dec. 3 2025 for not teaching PSC 811, assigned to you during the second Semester of 2024/2025, as alleged, I am directed to suspend you from the University for a period of three months, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
“You are to resume duties in the University on April 8, 2026, depending on the outcome of the investigation of the Disciplinary Committee,” it said.
Osegbue is currently in court contesting the appointment of Prof. Kate Omenugha who finished 5th was appointed instead of him who came 1st after selection process
Meanwhile, Osegbue, a Professor of Political Economy and Development Studies in the Department of Political Science, had responded by saying he could administer examinations to students who did not meet the criteria as stipulated in the University guidelines.
He said he would not be coerced into examining students who were admitted less than one month to the exams and did not attend lectures.
Osegbue said the students in question did not meet the requirement that postgraduate student should attain at least
75 percent lecture attendance, calculated over a minimum of nine weeks of intensive lectures.
“I declined to participate in the awarding of unearned grades or in the certificate racketeering practices into which COOU has unfortunately degenerated.
“The published timetable indicated that examinations would commence on Sep. 2
2025 and PSC 811 was
scheduled for that same date but the 12 students who authored the petition against me were admitted between 28 days and eight days before examinations commenced.
“In line with the academic regulations of the PG School of COOU, none of these students met the eligibility requirement of
75 percent attendance over nine weeks of lectures, only one student attended two lectures.
“This exemplifies the ongoing mass production
of grades and certificate racketeering that has characterized COOU over the past eight years and worsened since 2023,” he said.
