The campus of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka was greeted with tension on Saturday morning when three truck load of soldiers stormed the area in a bid to remove the Acting Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Prof Jeo Ikechebelu.
At the expiration of the tenure of the former Vice Chancellor, Prof Charles Okechukwu Esimone, Prof Ikechebelu had two months ago been named the acting Vice Chancellor of the university.
It was, however, alleged that Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe had convened an emergency meeting of the council, intimating the plan to remove Ikechebelu as Vice-Chancellor.
A memo from the university which was made available to reporters stated that two professors of the university have been scheduled to replace Ikechebelu. The professors are: Professor Carol Arinze-Umeobi and Professor F. J. C. Odibo.
It was learnt that the Mbadiwe-led council had empowered a few professors in the university to hold the Senate meeting, and had pencilled down the two professors, with the aim to remove Ikechebelu.
The memo read: “RESOLUTION OF THE EMERGENCY MEETING OF SENATE HELD ON 19™ JULY, 2024 AT THE UNIVERSITY AUDITORIUM
“In response to the memo by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, titled “RE: APPOINTMENT OF ACTING VICE-CHANCELLOR” dated July 11, 2024, requesting the Secretary to Council to convey to the Senate the directive of the Governing Council to nominate and furnish the Council with the names of two (2) former Deputy Vice-Chancellors who are above 66 years but below 70 years for consideration for appointment to the position of Acting Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, the Senate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, in the Emergency Meeting of this day, Friday, July 19, 2024, nominated the following as the only two qualified candidates for Council consideration:
“(1) Professor Carol Arinze-Umeobi Date of birth: 7″ July 1957 Retirement Date: 7” July 2027
“(2) Professor F. J. C. Odibo Date of birth: 13 April 1955 Retirement Date 13″ April 2025,”
As of the time of filing this report, the entire administration building of the university has been militarized, as soldiers have overrun the space.
As at the time of this report, members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), have also mobilized in their numbers, in solidarity with the acting Vice Chancellor, Ikechebelu, who they adjudged as having integrity and performing creditably since his appointment
