The Federal University of Gusau (FUGUS), Zamfara State, has distanced itself from claims made by Bernard Odoh, the recently dismissed Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), regarding his professorship.
Odoh’s tenure was terminated following allegations surrounding his appointment, recruitment process, and academic qualifications.
He had asserted that he was appointed a visiting professor at FUGUS in 2014 and later promoted to a full professor of applied geophysics in 2015.
These claims, challenged by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at UNIZIK, prompted Odoh to produce documents to substantiate his professorship.
The documents included “certified true copies” of an offer of tenure as a professor, confirmation of his promotion, and affidavits from two assessors who supported his promotion.
An additional affidavit from the former FUGUS registrar, Ibrahim Bawa Kaura, also surfaced online, affirming Odoh’s professorship.
However, FUGUS, in a statement by its registrar, Yakubu Anivbassa, labelled the documents as “products of administrative fraud” and categorically denied Odoh’s employment or professorship at the university.
“The Federal University of Gusau hereby states in clear and unambiguous terms that the so-called letters of offer of tenure of appointment as Professor and confirmation of promotion to the post of Professor, dated 30th April 2015 and 12th November 2015, being paraded by Dr. Bernard Odoh, are null and void,” the statement declared.
Anivbassa further alleged that Odoh colluded with former university officials to fabricate the documents, emphasising that the former registrar, Ibrahim Bawa, had left FUGUS in 2018 and lacked the authority to certify official documents in 2024.
“The documents being paraded by Dr. Odoh Bernard Ifeanyi and purported to be certified true copies hurriedly endorsed by Ibrahim Bawa Kaura, former Registrar of the Federal University, dated November 8, 2024, six solid years after the latter left the services of the Federal University Gusau, are products of administrative fraud orchestrated by Dr. Odoh,” the statement added.
The university also highlighted that the certification of public documents must comply with the Evidence Act 2011, which mandates specific procedures, including proper seals, fees, and signatures.
Anivbassa stated that Odoh’s documents failed to meet these legal standards and were thus “illegal, criminal, null, and void.”
This development follows the dissolution of UNIZIK’s governing council and the dismissal of its vice chancellor and registrar by President Bola Tinubu.
A statement from Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, described Odoh’s appointment as a violation of due process and the university’s laws.
Odoh, however, defended his position in a recent interview with Arise TV, stating he would not accept his dismissal through a press release but only after the findings of an investigative council.
