‘My Sack Was Unlawful’ — Odoh Seeks Court Order Against New UniZik VC Appointments

In the suit, with file number FHC/ABJ/CS/82/2025, dated January 20, 2025, Prof. Odoh is seeking an order to prevent the defendants from taking further steps to reconstitute the University’s Governing Council until the motion on notice filed alongside the application is heard and determined.

The defendants in the case are the Minister of Education, the Federal Ministry of Education, and Prof. Joseph Ifeanyichukwu Ikechebelu, who was listed as the acting Vice Chancellor following Prof. Odoh’s removal.

Recall On November 20, 2024, President Bola Tinubu announced the dissolution of UNIZIK’s Governing Council and the removal of the newly appointed Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bernard Odoh, along with the Registrar, Mrs. Rosemary Nwokike.

Prof. Odoh, a former Secretary to the Ebonyi State Government, has now challenged the legality of his removal through his lawyer, Prof. Chimezie Kingsley Okorie (SAN).

Prayers Before the Court

In the ex parte application filed alongside the motion on notice, Prof. Odoh is seeking several reliefs, including:

1. An interim injunction restraining the defendants from reconstituting the University’s Governing Council.

2. An interim injunction preventing Prof. Joseph Ifeanyichukwu Ikechebelu from further acting or parading himself as the Acting Vice Chancellor.

3. An interim injunction stopping the defendants from taking any further steps concerning the office or appointment of the Vice Chancellor.

4. An interim injunction restraining the defendants from taking any action concerning the University’s Governing Council.

The application is based on five grounds, emphasizing the need for the rule of law, the defendants’ alleged disregard for court processes, the urgency of the matter, and the need to maintain sanity before resorting to self-help.