UNICAL suspends lecturer for ‘extorting students’

A lecturer at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has been suspended for alleged extortion.

NAN reports that the academic, identified as Sylvester Ohadoma, is the head of the department for Pharmacology.

Ohadoma was removed by the institution’s management over the alleged extortion of students.

He was also suspended for one academic session and barred from interacting with students within the period.

His immediate removal was contained in a press release signed on Monday by Gabriel Egbe, the registrar.

Egbe said Ohadoma consistently flouted the university senate’s directives “against extortion and collection of unapproved levies from students.”

He said the suspension was in tandem with the management’s decision to rid the institution of unethical practices.

“[He] illegally charged the sum of N3,200 from students for what he termed practical fees,” the statement reads.

“Dr. Ohadoma is said to have extorted the same amount from students in the previous semesters, in addition to selling textbooks for as much as N12,000 each to students in flagrant contravention of management’s directive.”

Egbe further stated that the present administration of the university finds it repulsive that one who should take the lead in protecting the integrity of the institution is involved in such unwholesome practices.

He added that the university’s management would not condone any unethical practice by members of staff.

“The vice chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, has approved that Dr. Ohadoma should be relieved of his appointment as HOD and Coordinator of Principles of Pharmacology 322 with effect from January 23, 2023,” it added.

“Management has further instructed that all official responsibilities hitherto handled by Dr. Ohadoma, including teaching and supervision, are to be re-assigned to other qualified lecturers in the department.

“Dr. Ohadoma is barred from having any direct academic interface with students for one year.

“Dr. Ohadoma has been further ordered to refund all unauthorized monies which he collected from students and provide evidence of such refund to the Vice Chancellor through the Director, SERVICOM within the next month.

“While hoping that this will serve as a deterrent to others, management has directed the Dean, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences to ensure strict and full compliance with the directives.”