A claimant, Mr Rex Ademu has appealed to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria to restrain Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka from promoting Mr Bernard Odoh to the professorial cadre.
Ademu, through his lawyer, Levi Chiefuna, sought the relief from the Industrial Court in Suit No: NICN/AWK/35/2025.
The defendants are Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof Carol Arinze-Umobi (the Acting Vice Chancellor) and Mr Bernard Odoh referred to as first, second and third defendants respectively.
The claimant seeks court to declare that under the applicable laws, regulations, university statues and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Staff conditions of service, the appointments and promotions committee of the first defendant which is chaired by second defendant is mandatorily required to consider, appraise and evaluate the integrity of any staff seeking promotion from the first defendant to the rank of professor.
Ademu also urged the court to declare that the third defendant’s alleged claim to be a Professor of the Federal University, Gusau (FUGUS) in Zamfara State has been disclaimed, discredited and dismissed by FUGUS.
He viewed this as sufficiently impugned and discredited the third defendant’s integrity and character and accordingly, the third defendant is not qualified to hold or appointed to the office of Professor in the first defendant.
Other claims
The claimant equally seeks an order directing the first and second defendants to investigate the various facts impugning the third defendant’s integrity.
This includes being involved in partisan politics while being employed by the first defendant and the alleged presentation of false documents purporting to establish the third defendant’s prior employment or professorial status at FUGUS.
Ademu equally seeks an appropriate disciplinary or criminal actions taken as may be necessary against the third defendant.
Finally, he seeks an order of injunction restraining the first and second defendants from recognizing, promoting, or appointing the third defendant to the position of professor or a related academic/administrative role pending the outcome of such investigations as in relief 3.
Ademu contended that appointment of Mr Odoh as a Professor will greatly offend Chapter 5.3(a)(iii) of the Condition of Service.
That provision requires integrity as one of the three major criteria for appointments and promotions the University.
