Court fails to deliver judgment on Ojukwu Varsity Vice Chancellor Suit
The National industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), sitting in Awka failed to deliver judgments on the matter between Prof. Chike Osegbue vs Prof. Kate Omenugha and five others over the appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University(COOU), Igbariam.
Justice John Tergama had reserved judgment on the matter for Oct. 15.
Oral arguments and adoption of written addresses on the matter were done on July 21.
But the judgement was not read until the court rose on Thursday as scheduled.
The judgment was not listed in the Cause List for the day’s proceedings.
Some people who were at the court but oblivious of the development were disappointed as the matter was not called up for judgement.
Osegbue in suit marked NICN/ARJ/275/2025, is asking the court to nullify the Aug. 6, 2025 appointment of Omenugha as the substantive Vice Chancellor of the Anambra government owned University.
Other respondents in the matter are Gov. Soludo Chukwuma Soludo, Attorney-General of Anambra, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, the COOU Council and the University itself.
He prayed the court to declare him the substantive vice-chancellor having finished first in the selection process and recommended by the university’s governing council to the governor who is the visitor for appointment.
He argued that the appointment of Omenugha was in flagrant disregard to the law of the University and due process as exercised by the selection committee under the then Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu.
On her part, Omenugha urged the court to dismiss the suit and its prayers arguing that the selection process was not fully compliant with the law of the University.
A legal practitioner told journalists at the court there was nothing unusual about a court not delivering judgment as scheduled provided it was within the constitutionally stipulated period.
