Accused Lecturer Not Our Staff, Declares UNIPORT – Independent Newspaper Nigeria

PORT HARCOURT – The University of Port Harcourt has clarified that none of its lecturers was involved in the alleged case of sexual harassment involving a female student whose identity is yet unknown sometime in April.

The University’s denial was contained in a memorandum dated Wednesday May 15, 2024 and signed by the Registrar, Dr. Gloria Chindah.

The position of the university followed findings of an investigative panel set up to unravel the veracity of the sexual harassment claims.

Recall that in April, a disturbing viral 51 seconds video surfaced on social media showing a lecturer allegedly from the University of Port Harcourt, sexually harassing a female student in his office.

The video showed a lecturer making sexual overtures to the student and touching her breast, while the female student continues to resist the lecturer’s advances towards her.

Many social media users who reacted to the video, suggested that the incident happened at the University’s faculty of Engineering.

Dr. Chindah in the memo, recalled that the University consequent upon its zero tolerance for sexual harassment of students, constituted a panel of investigation to ascertain the veracity of the contents of the video and to make appropriate recommendations.

She noted that despite careful investigation of the panel, the identity of the accused lecturer in the trending video could not be ascertained, neither was that of the female student.

The Registrar, however advised members of the university community to discountenance the contents of the video, noting that University Management would not shy away from applying relevant disciplinary measures against any member of staff caught involving in acts of sexual molestation.

She said, “You may recall that a widely circulated video of an alleged sexual harassment wherein the name of Dr. Obinichi Nnorom was mentioned as molesting a female student, the University Management had constituted a panel of investigation to ascertain the veracity of the contents of the video and to make appropriate recommendations in line with the University’s zero tolerance against sexual harassment.

“The report of the Panel could not establish that the said person in the trending video was Dr. Obinichi Nnorom and the identity of the female in the video could not be established as well. The Panel therefore concluded that no case could be established against Dr. Obinichi Nnorom.

“The University Community is therefore advised to discountenance the contents of the viral video while also noting that University Management will not shy away from applying the relevant disciplinary measures against any member of staff found in acts of sexual molestation.”