UNIZIK Officials Face Imprisonment Threat Over Contempt Of Court

Three management staff members of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra state, are facing imprisonment threat for allegedly disobeying a court order, concerning the selection of a substantive vice-chancellor for the institution.

This followed the issuance of Form 86 by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Awka Judicial Division, on the institution’s management threatening to commit them to prison for contempt of court.

The details were contained in the Form 86, obtained by LEADERSHIP Weekend titled, “Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Order of Court” in Suit No: NICN/AWK/61/2025, dated October 30 and served on the pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council of the university, Monsur Kukoyi; the acting vice-chancellor, Prof. Carol Arinze-Umobi and the registrar, Dr Chinenye Okeke.

They were asked to take note “that unless you obey the directions contained in this order, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”

The latest development, according to findings, arose from a consent judgment delivered by Justice J. I. Targema of the National Industrial Court, Awka in 2024 in a suit between Prof. Anthony Okoye versus Nnamdi Azikiwe University and 5 others who are staff and authorities of the institution.

In the said consent judgment, of which a Certified True Copy dated 16th October, 2024 was made available to this reporter, the Court had in its wisdom averred: “That this Court, by the provisions of Order 42 Rule 9 of NICN Rules 2017 hereby enters the terms of Settlement as judgment of this court. The said terms shall be binding on the parties.”

Similarly, the Association of Medical and Dental Consultants in Academics had filed a suit with No; NICN/ABJ/372/2024 against Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka and others wherein the Association had prayed the Court to hold that the Medical Fellowship is equivalent to Ph.D for the purpose of qualification to be appointed as the vice-chancellor of the university.

The suit, LEADERSHIP Weekend, however, learnt was dismissed by the National Industrial Court, sitting in Abuja in a recent judgment on the ground that the said subject matter has been determined in Suit No:NICN/AWK/50/2024 filed by Prof Anthony Okoye against Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka and 5 Ors by the National Industrial Court sitting in Awka.

Meanwhile, the management of the institution through the Senate, announced the Constitution of a Search Team for the position of a vice-chancellor of the institution which will become vacant later this month, following the expiration of the tenure of the acting vice-chancellor, Professor Carol Arinze-Umobi.

On October 29, the university senate elected Prof. Amaka Metu of the Department of Economics and Prof. Elizabeth Ezenweke of the Department of Religion, Faculty of Arts as Senate representatives to the VC Search team.

The University Congregation also elected two representatives, Professor U. C. C. Nwogwugwu and Mr. Osundu Nnamdi, to the search team.

When contacted for reaction on the development, the pro-chancellor and chairman of council, Kukoyi, said he has not received the court notice but stated that there are moves by some persons with vested interests in the university to truncate the VC selection process for their selfish interests which he stated that their plans won’t work.

Counsel to the pro-chancellor and the university, Dr Reginald Uzoechi when contacted also said there was no legal impediment whatsoever restraining the council from performing its statutory duties in the election of a substantive vice chancellor for the university.