The recently dismissed Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Bernard Odoh, has rejected his removal, claiming that President Bola Tinubu “can’t fire somebody you didn’t employ.”
Odoh, in a Thursday interview on Arise TV, said his dismissal failed to follow due process and undermined the autonomy of the institution’s governing council, which had appointed him.
“You can’t fire somebody you didn’t employ. The Visitor (Tinubu) appointed the council and the council followed due process to engage and give me a letter. He can’t remove me through a press release,” Odoh said.
Yesterday, Tinubu, in a statement by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, announced that he has dismised Odoh as Unizik Vice-Chancellor as well as the institution’s Registrar, Mrs. Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike and also approved the dissolution of the governing council of the 33-year-old institution.
“The sacking of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council illegally appointed an unqualified vice chancellor without following due process,” Onanuga said.
Onanuga said the controversial appointment drew the attention of the federal government after tensions arose between the institution’s Senate and the governing council.
In response, Odoh refuted claims that his appointment had violated university laws, stating that his selection as VC had “followed a straightforward procedure” and not “through a press release”
“I’m not disobeying Mr. President, but it is the governing council that will recommend my sack after investigating me,” adding that “Mr. President could have been ill-advised.”
“There was no panel of inquiry. I was not appointed through a press release but rather by a constituted authority which followed a straightforward procedure.”
He also noted that his records were validated by the Sokoto State High Court and corroborated by the university’s registrar at the time of his confirmation.
“What some people did was to pay somebody to remove my records from the university.
The VC who appointed me still teaches at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and he wrote my reference letter,” he added.
Odoh also alleged that his removal was influenced by regional bias, stating that being from Ebonyi State, often regarded as a ‘third-class people’ had made him a target.
“I’m from Ebonyi State. We are regarded as third-class people. People feel I’m not qualified because I come from Ebonyi State. People have ganged up to remove me at all costs.
