Anxiety has gripped the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, following the confirmation of Prof. Bernard Odoh’s professorship by the National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja.

Odoh, who was appointed Vice Chancellor of UNIZIK, was sacked by the Federal Government over the status of his professorship.

Since his departure, Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu and Carol Arinze-Umobi have acted as Vice Chancellor prior to the appointment of Prof. Ugochukwu Stanley Bond Anyaehie on November 16, 2025 as the substantive VC.

Stakeholders are speculating whether the court ruling implies Odoh’s reinstatement as Vice Chancellor.

In a statement, Prof. Odoh thanked God for the victory, describing it as a testament to God’s faithfulness and the power of resilience.

His words: “Today, my heart is overflowing with gratitude and joy… The Industrial Court has finally delivered judgment in my favour, affirming my rightful status as a Professor, effective ten years ago.”

The court ordered the University of Gusau to issue a written apology, pay ₦5 million in damages, and restore Odoh’s rights and privileges.

Odoh expressed gratitude to his supporters, saying: “This victory is more than a personal achievement — it is a testimony to God’s faithfulness, the power of resilience, and the support of good people who never stopped believing in me.”

The development has sparked intense speculation about Odoh’s next move and the future of UNIZIK’s leadership.

It is recalled that the Federal Ministry of Education had announced the removal of Bernard Odoh, the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikwe University. The ministry also announced the dissolution of the institution’s Governing Council. Folashade Boriowo, the Director of Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Education, made the announcement in a statement on Wednesday.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities had accused the Governing Council of the institution of failing to follow due process in the appointment of Odoh and had demanded that the FME dissolve the Council over acts of illegalities.

“The Federal Government has announced the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, following grave breaches of the laws governing the university and disregard for lawful directives from the Federal Ministry of Education.

“The decision comes after it was found that the Chairman of the Governing Council unilaterally appointed a Vice-Chancellor who did not meet the minimum eligibility criteria for the position. This led to a breakdown of law and order within the university community, causing tension and disharmony.

“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, emphasized that urgent measures were needed to prevent further deterioration of the situation at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, as the illegal decisions taken by the Governing Council posed a significant risk of further destabilizing the institution.

“The Honourable Minister of Education has also announced the removal of Prof. Bernard Odoh, the Vice-Chancellor who was illegally appointed by the dissolved Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

“In accordance with the university’s founding act, an Acting Vice-Chancellor will be appointed, and a new Governing Council for the university will be constituted as soon as possible to ensure proper governance and adherence to the law.”

But Odoh disagreed, saying he could not be sacked through a press statement. His words: “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 added.

With regards to his confirmation as a Professor which had come up as another debate, Odoh said the allegation was false, saying that when the “lies and fake news” regarding his professorship came up, the then-Registrar at the time he was confirmed as a Professor, took his records to the Sokoto State High Court for 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.

He added that the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, “jumped the gun” with regards to his sack as he (Odoh) has four pending lawsuits filed against him in different courts.

“Those matters are yet to be determined, and now the minister jumped the gun on a matter the Federal Ministry of Education is a party to as defendants. The court hasn’t ruled on this matter. So, I don’t see a basis for all of this noise,” he noted.

(C) CITY LAWYER Magazine. All rights reserved. To join our Channel, click here. Click here to join our WhatsApp chatroom. Contact us at citylawyermag@gmail.com or 081-3838-0083.