Uncertainty as varsity council clears VC of sexual advances allegation

Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, has been in the spotlight in recent times following allegations of fraud including administrative malfeasance against some management staff. Not long ago, 300 personnel allegedly employed unfairly, were dismissed from work while a number of academics including professors who allegedly cut corners in promotion exercises were demoted. […]

Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, has been in the spotlight in recent times following allegations of fraud including administrative malfeasance against some management staff.

Not long ago, 300 personnel allegedly employed unfairly, were dismissed from work while a number of academics including professors who allegedly cut corners in promotion exercises were demoted.

Two months to the end of the tenure of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Francis Otunta, a female employee, Dr Patricia Mbah, has accused him of sexual harassment.

Although, the management has reportedly probed the matter and exonerated the VC, the case is raising dust of uncertainty within the university community.

A statement signed by the Registrar and Secretary to the Governing Council, Jacinta Ogwo- Agu, declared that Prof Otunta “at no time or place did harass physically or sexually the said Dr Patricia Mbah as he has no need to do so”.

It disclosed that the allegation was a product of frustration and vendetta by the said staff, because she was disciplined in line with the extant rules of the university.

The statement explained that Dr Mbah, alongside more than 100 other employees, was “properly placed from her previous unmerited position in line with the approval given by the Council at its 21st emergency meeting held from Monday, May 13 to Thursday May 16, 2019.”

The action of the council was informed by deluge of petitions against the “arbitrary and skewed promotions and appointments” carried without regard to extant laws which the Federal Ministry of Education had directed the Governing Council to review.

When contacted, Dr Mbah said she could not comment because she had filed suit on it.

Meanwhile, a source close to Dr Patricia Mbah said that the latter had earlier petitioned the council, education ministry and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), among others, alleging unsolicited sexual advances by the VC on her which she disallowed instantly.

Dr. Mbah was thereafter demoted to the rank of associate professor, the source added.

“Mbah said in the complaint letter that her salary was stopped since April 2019. Before the allegation, the VC had proposed her as the Deputy Vice- Chancellor,” the source said.

Again, Council Chairman, Rt. Hon. Lawal Zayanna while addressing journalists after a meeting yesterday, agreed that Dr Mbah had petitioned the council seeking an‘official caution or warning’ issued to the VC to stop his ‘incessant sexual harassment and threat to her job and life’ and that the council had interacted with the parties involved. He said the allegations of sexual harassment could not be substantiated by the petitioner.

The chairman further said Dr Mbah’s salary has been restored.