The Abia State Government has removed the Vice Chancellor of Abia State University (ABSU), Professor Onyemachi Ogbulu, along with other top officials. This change, announced by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, came after the state’s Executive Council (EXCO) meeting held on Monday in Umuahia, presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
In his address, Prince Kanu confirmed that Professor Ndukwe Okeudo would step in as the new Vice Chancellor, effective November 1, 2024. Additional appointments were made to establish a new leadership team, including Rt. Hon. Agwu U. Agwu as the Pro-Chancellor, and Professor Catherine Uju Ifejika as the Chancellor. Onwubiko Dike was appointed to the Governing Council, strengthening the administration’s oversight of the institution.
The recent reshuffling of ABSU’s top officials follows the recommendations of a visitation panel report released on October 26, 2024. This panel was tasked with investigating the institution’s practices and governance. The report outlined several concerns about the former Vice Chancellor’s conduct, specifically pointing to his “traditional title and Payroll admission” as issues requiring further investigation.
The Commissioner revealed that other roles in the university were also filled to support the new leadership structure. These include two Deputy Vice Chancellors, four Senate members, two representatives from the congregation, one from the convocation, and another from the Ministry of Education. A new Bursar was also appointed, marking a comprehensive overhaul of ABSU’s administration.
A major outcome from the visitation panel’s findings was the directive to investigate irregularities associated with the former Bursar, Mr. Chucks Chikwendu Nwaogwugwu. The panel’s report specified concerns around the authenticity of his academic credentials, recommending “the withdrawal of the M.Phil certificate and the termination of the PhD programme” due to discrepancies in his admission.
There had previously been rumors that former VC Prof. Ogbulu, who is also reported to hold a traditional leadership title, was considering resigning amidst speculation about his dual roles. However, when approached on Sunday, Prof. Ogbulu refrained from commenting, stating that he would wait to receive the official panel report before addressing the situation.
