The Travails of UNN Mathematics Professor, Felicia Isiogugu

This may not be the best of time for University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) as the ivory tower whose motto is “To Restore the Dignity of Man” has been in the front burner of a section of the mass media over the alleged sexual harassment, monumental corruption and intrigues in the race for successor of Professor Charles Igwe as Vice Chancellor of the University, who is bowing out from office in June, this year.
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Currently, a Professor of Mathematics, Mrs Felicia Isiogugu is at the daggers drawn with the authority of the University over alleged threat to life, unlawful relief of duty, corruption and gender chauvinism.
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The embattled former Head of Department (HOD) in the Department of Mathematics, Professor Isiogugu at the weekend narrated her ordeal to newsmen, alleging that she was being suspended because she declined to bend the rule at the Postgraduate School where she alleged that there are organised corruption and academic fraud in the Department of Mathematics Postgraduate programme what is abetted by the College of Postgraduate Studies.
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Another grave allegation she raised was unlawful relief of her duty, unlawful suspension, threat to life, harassment and male chauvinism.
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In her petition to UNN Senate with reference number: UN/FPS/MTH/SNT/01, dated July 4, 2023, sent through the University Registrar, Dr. (Mrs) C. N. Nnebedum, and Vice Chancellor, Professor Charlse Igwe, Professor Isiogugu complained bitterly of her travail, urging the authority to do the needful.
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Parts of the petition read:
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“I write to inform you of the corruption in the management of Postgraduate Studies in the Department of Mathematics, University of Nigeria, the resultant ripple effects arising from my insistence of following the proper procedure and the status of the matter to date for your intervention, please. Shortly after my assumption of office as Head, Department of Mathematics, I discovered that the department was not following the extant university rules and regulations including National University Commission (NUC) guidelines in graduating postgraduate students. Forgeries were observed, many students did not offer the core courses required for award of M.Sc. degree in Pure and Applied Mathematics, etc.
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“I decided to make this complaint to your office because all my efforts to resolve this case by some higher authorities in the university administration were not fruitful. I have complained in writing too and in vain to all the highly placed officers of the university:
“(i) Faculty Postgraduate representative, Prof. Jannefrances Ihedioha,
(ii) the Dean Faculty of Physical Sciences, Prof. Ogbonnaya Igwe,
(iii) the Provost, College of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Romanus Ezeokonkwo, (iv) Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, Prof. Jonhnson Urama and (v) the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Charles Igwe but their actions tend to suggest that either they do not read my reports or are playing double standard to remove me as the HOD.
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“In fact their actions and directives are not based on facts and unbiased investigations. I have been traumatized by their biased judgements, intimidations, unlawful directives, false accusation, harassment and attempts to frame me up (see A44, A45). My health, research work and administrative services may be affected seriously because of the injustices and dehumanization which I have been suffering from their actions from 17 October, 2022 to date, if their excesses are not checked immediately.
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“I was directed to conduct oral examinations and seminar presentations for some PG students who did not meet the departmental requirements for eligibility for such academic activities (see A15(i), 15/03/2023; A16(i),15/03/2023; A10, 17/03/2023). On receiving the directives, I sent my response stating the reason the department could not fix oral external examinations and project seminars for the students (se A11(i), 17/05/2023; A16; A15, A16, A4, A2, see also A9; A11(ii) – A14, A21; see also A40, A20). This response was copied to the Vice Chancellor and the Provost, College of Postgraduate Studies.
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“While I was waiting for further directives from the Provost, School of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Romanus Ezeokonkwo, I received a letter from the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics notifying me of a committee to investigate allegations of abuse of official powers, high-handedness, administrative immaturity and insubordination to authorities against me (see A19, 10/03/2023). The letter did not state who made the allegations and a copy of the petition containing the allegations was not attached to the notification letter. In fact, the letter was a shocker and I am yet to get over the shock and the resultant depression. I could not believe that people who committed academic fraud could be protected while one who makes honest efforts to correct the system is punished with impunity. I acknowledged receipt of the letter and stated my dissatisfaction over the process of handling the matter. I also requested that both the secretary of the committee and the venue be changed but my requests and complaints were ignored by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics and the Vice Chancellor (see A25; A26; A25(i)).
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“My letter of invitation by the committee was brought to Department of Mathematics at the close of work on the 12th April, 2023 for interaction on the 13th April, 2023 at 10:00am (see A23), again, a copy of the petition was not attached to enable me know what I was accused of and be able to defend myself.
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“The invitation letter was therefore a two working hour notice directing me to bring all documents to support my claims. On the 13th April I went for the interaction but insisted that I would not make a comment if they refused to give me a copy of the petition against me and also requested for change of secretary and venue (see A 24(i)). It was then that the committee agreed to give me a copy of the petition and the secretary was instructed to make a photocopy of the petitions and give me a copy which he did immediately (see A27). I pleaded to be give at least three days to study the petition and source for documents to support my claims. My plea was not granted and I was given the next day, 14th April 2023 to appear before the 3 committee. These, pari passu with the appointment of the secretary to the petitioner as the secretary of the committee showed that the committee was compromised ab-initio (see A46, response to item 3) The interaction was held at 12:00 noon on the 14th April 2023 and lasted for three hours, forty five minutes (3hrs:45mins). I submitted to the Chairman of the committee, a copy of my letter to the Vice Chancellor titled “RESISTANCE TO REFORMS TO ELIMINATE DEEP ROOTED FRAUD IN THE DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMME AIDED AND ABETTED BY THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES (SPGS), PRESENT DEAN FACULTY OF PHYSICAL SCIENCES, PROF. OGBONNAYA IGWE, FACULTY PG REPRESENTATIVE, PROF. JANEFRANCES IHEDIOHA AND THE ACADAMIC STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS BENEFITTING FROM THE FRAUD”, and attached all the documents cited in the letter (see A44). I later submitted to the Vice Chancellor, a copy of my written response to the bogus allegations (A27) by the Dean, Physical Sciences, Prof. Ogbonnaya Igwe against me (See A45) which I could not submit to the committee on the day of my interaction with the committee due to time constraint.
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“While I was waiting for the committee’s report, I received on the 16/05/2023 another shocking letter (dated 12/05/2023) from the Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Professor Ogbonnaya Igwe requesting that I hand over to him the conduct and management of all the Department of Mathematics examinations for the remainder of 2021/2022 academic session (See A26(i)).
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“He cited a letter from the Vice Chancellor dated 10/05/2023 which was not given to me. In my response to the dean’s request which I copied to the Vice-Chancellor, I informed the dean that I have not received the copy of the Vice Chancellor’s directive and that he did not attach it as well (see A26(ii)). It was after A26(ii) was sent to the Vice Chancellor that the copy of the letter (dated 10/05/2023) containing his directive that the conduct and management of all the Department of Mathematics examinations be handed over to the dean of faculty was sent to the Department of Mathematics on the 17/05/2023 (see A26(iii)). Indeed, their plot to remove me from office and continue the fraud appeared consummated. The Vice Chancellor’s letter (VC/D/70, May10, 2023) cited the report of the committee set up to investigate Prof. Ogbonnaya Igwe’s allegations against me as what guided his decision to relieve me of my duty. I immediately sent a hand over note to the Dean and copied the Vice Chancellor (see A26(iv)). However, I requested that a copy of the committee’s report be made available to me in order to enable me study the judgement and decide whether to appeal the judgement or not.
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“I was thrown into a state of perplexity and hysteria when I received a query from the Vice Chancellor accusing me among other things of requesting for a copy of the committee’s report (see. A26(v)). I have also responded to the query (see A46). WHY I RAN TO THE UNIVERTY OF NIGERIA SENATE, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA I decided to make this formal complaint to the University of Nigeria Senate, University of Nigeria as a result of: (1) the supervisors, the Faculty Postgraduate Representative, the Dean of the Faculty, the Provost, College of Postgraduate Studies, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics refusal to accept my 4 proposed solutions to the problems.
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“My proposals were guided by UNN/CPGS rules and regulations because I neither want the students’ certificates to be recalled after many years of their graduation nor participate in the academic fraud as well as suppression of information to the administration. (2) The inability of the principal officers: the Vice Chancellor, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, the Provost, College of Postgraduate Studies, the Faculty Dean and senior Professors in the Department to find solutions to the problems facing the Department of Mathematics Postgraduate Programme and the following injustice which I implore the Senate to address.
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“(i) the query (A26(v)) from the Vice Chancellor, an indication that some highly placed university administrative officers are determined to set me up, tarnish my image, destroy my career and unlawfully remove me as the Head of the Department of Mathematics. (ii) the unlawful relief of the departmental examinations duty from me (A26(iii)), the appointment of another HOD while my tenure is still running, the directive to hand over to the second HOD and my unlawful suspension by the VC without due process. (iii) the Provost, College of Postgraduate Studies and the Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences directives that I conduct oral external examinations and project seminars for students who did not meet the eligibility condition for such academic activities (see see A15, A16, A10, A27, A32(iii), A27(i)) and the recent contradictory order by the Provost, College of Postgraduate Studies (see A31(i), A29(i)) warning against disobedience to College of Postgraduate Studies rules and regulations which I complained as the reason the department could not conduct examinations and seminars for the students and I was accused of insubordination (see A12, A11(i), A13, A14) A9, A27). These recent directives show that the Provost College of Postgraduate Studies (CPGS) has practically and holistically accepted the cause of my struggle. If the Provost, CPGS and ipso facto the university management has now accepted my position, why try to destroy me if not for their impunity to punish me for daring to tell them the truth? So the university management should cleanse me by nullifying Prof. Ogbonnaya Igwe’s allegations against me. (iv) the Faculty of Physical Sciences Postgraduate Committee’s unlawful directives and interference in the Department of Mathematics Postgraduate admission and other postgraduate matters (see A28, A32(iii), A27(i), A38). (v) the instigation of PG students against me by (i) the Provost, College of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Romanus Ezeokonkwo, (ii) Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Professor Ogbonnaya Igwe, (iii) Faculty Postgraduate representative, Prof. Janefrances Ihedioha, (iv) all erring postgraduate supervisors, Prof. G. C. E. Mbah, Dr. Aniaku, Dr. Mrs. Ezeafulukwe, DPGR, Dr. Collins Obiora and Dr. Dennis Agbebaku.
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“All the above staff, instead of training the children parents entrusted to their care to train them to be knowledgeable, productive, truthful, honest and responsible citizens, they taught them how to commit fraud, how to tell lies, manipulate examinations and courses of study and graduate fraudulently. They taught them how to frame up their teachers, insult them, harass them and threaten them so as to graduate without following due processes. This is grave moral 5 decadence. This is a great disservice to humanity. This is not the intention of the founders of this great university. Those who committed these heinous crime, aided and abetted others to do so ought to be sanctioned irrespective of their status. A 29(i) and 31(i) are welcome on course but the crime has already been committed. It will be unfair to our founding fathers and a grave injustice to sweep the matter under the carpet. (vi) threats, insults and false accusations by the following five students:
(a) Mrs.Ezeafulukwe Uzoamaka N., PG/MSc/18/88505,
(b) Mr. Garagara Suki Kinwi, PG/MSC/19/89581
(c) Agbata Celestine Benedict PG/MSc/18/89261,
, (d) Mr. Nnamani Nicholas Topman, PG/MSc/18/88302,
(e) Mr. Onalo Philip, PG/MSC /19/91086.
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“These students deliberately suppressed the fact that their supervisors attended the Departmental PG Committee meetings where courses of study and allocation of courses were approved and their personal awareness of the appropriate courses to offer but falsely blamed me for not telling them the courses they would offer, see A20, A40 vis-a-vis their petitions A16(i), A15(i).
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(vii) ignoring my alarm on the threat to my life by the administration. (viii) ill advice to overrule the departmental decisions on PG matters by 23 academic staff of the faculty (see A27
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(iii)) cited by the Dean, Prof. Ogbonnaya Igwe and Prof. Janefrances Ihedioha (see A27, A28). Please note that Prof. G. C. E. Mbah who was the only professor in the department of mathematics that attended the meeting is the genesis of these problems. He has graduated students from 2016 without any programme. Throughout his headship of four (4) years, the university did not approve SPGS form 6 for any student. He is the evil nexus of all false alarms. He strides the Department as a colossus, disobeying every rule and intimidating, harassing and bullying anybody on his way to graduate unqualified students.
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(ix) accusation that Mathematics department refused to release students’ results and prevented the Departments of Physics and Astronomy, Pure and Industrial Chemistry and Computer Sciences from graduating their students. The Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Prof. Ogbonnaya Igwe made this allegation against the Department of Mathematics at 414th meeting of University of Nigeria Senate. This accusation was affirmed by the Vice Chancellor who informed the Senate that he has set up a committee to investigate the case. Whether my memos and responses on this matter copied to the Vice Chancellor before setting up the committee were read or not is anybody’s conjecture.
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(x) non observance of the University of Nigeria Regulations Governing Conditions of Service for Senior Staff, Chapter 22.
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(xi) Relieving me of my right to conduct and manage examinations even though I had the best performance (I graduated 92% of the department’s possible graduands for 2020/2021 Academic Session) while heads of department who could not graduate their students were allowed to continue the management and conduct of their departmental examinations. Furthermore, even the removal of undergraduate examinations from me which has no problems is ominous. Therefore, I humbly implore you to use your good offices to: (i) look into my case and grant me the justice I deserve.
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6 (ii) investigate the academic fraud in the Department of Mathematics and help the Department to uproot such activities for the future interest of the staff, students, university and the country in general.
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As it is, Professor Isiogugu told reporters that she also petitioned Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) who said that the matter does not fall under its mandate.
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“After a thorough review of your petition, it was decided that the matter falls outside the Commission’s mandate. Consequently, you are advised to seek redress in a court of competent jurisdiction or other alternative means to resolve the above disputes”, Kennedy Ebhotemen advised on behalf of the then Chairman of the Commission.
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Curiously, the matter is also before the Director, Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit of UNN, Professor J. C. Agunwamba of the Department of Civil Engineering yet no action seems to have been taken.
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For the Academic Staff Union of Universities, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (ASUU-UNN) where the matter was also dragged to, the Unionists said among others, that “All matters concerning academic curriculum should be channelled to the University Senate that exclusively handles all issues in that regard.”
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According to the Unionists, “The petition should also be channelled to Governing Council of the University that has the statutory mandate to handle issues of staff recruitment.
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Comrade Norbert Oyibo Eze and Comrade Michael Nwokedi, chairperson and secretary of the Union, respectively, conveyed the decision of the body to Professor Isiogugu, pointing out, “The union has information based on your post on ASUU-UNN Whatsapp platform 3 that this matter is already before the court, hence we cannot dabble into it, unless the matter is withdrawn from the court”.
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Determined to claim her rights, Professor Isiogugu has approached the Industrial Court as well as High Court, all sitting in Enugu to seek redress.
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In suit number: NICN/EN/2023 made available to newsmen, the defendants are at the Industrial Court are University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Professor Chalse Arinzechukwu Igwe, Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Professor Romanus Ezeokonkwo, Provost, College of Postgraduate Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Professor Ogbonnaya Igwe, Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
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Counsel to Professor Isiogugu, Chike P. Omeje (Esq) said the relief sought by his Client included:
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“An order setting aside the proceedings and findings of the Committee to investigate alleged case of abuse of official power, highhandednes, administrative immunity and insubordination to authorities, under the chairmanship of Professor M. B. Mbah, Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
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Others are: “An order nullifying the purported removal of the Claimant as the Head, Department of Mathematics, University Nigeria.
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“An order nullifying the purported appointment of Dr O. C. Collins as Head, Department of Mathematics.
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“An order nullifying the purported suspension if the Claimant on the directive of the 2nd defendant.
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“An order reinstating the Claimant as the Head, Department of Mathematics, University of Nigeria.
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“An order reinstating the Claimant as bona fide staff of the 1st defendant with effect from June 30, 2023.
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“An order that the Claimant be paid all her entitlements in full with effect from June 30, 2023.
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“N150,000,000.00 general damages.
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At the High Court in suit number: N/119/2023, the rift is between Professor Isiogugu (plaintiff) and Professor Ogbonnaya Igwe (defendant).
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Professor Isiogugu claimed that Professor Ogbonnaya Igwe had in a letter dated March 21, 2023, addressed to the Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, lampooned her for “abuse of official powers, highhandednes, administrative immaturity and insubordination to authority”.
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Gerlad Ezeh (Esq), Counsel to Professor Isiogugu is demanding on-behalf of his client the sum of N100m being exemplary and general damages for making false publication of and concerning the plaintiff.’
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Ezeh also demanded for a letter of apology to the plaintiff and any other order(s) the court may deem fit and proper to make in the circumstances.
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Contacted, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Igwe declined to comment even when this reporter sent a text message to him on his Whatsapp handle.
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This reporter also had similar strange encounter with the Dean of Physical Sciences, UNN, Professor Ogbonnaya Igwe on Saturday as his phone rang but no response. An SMS message was subsequently sent to him for reaction to the allegations levelled against him but up to the time of going to press he was yet to respond.
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Meanwhile, a senior staff of the University who preferred to remain anonymity, said the delay in responding to the matter by the University authority might not be unconnected with the fear of falling foul of the law as the case is pending in competent court.
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“Recall that the Vice Chancellor, Professor Charles Igwe, had in his address at 52nd Convocation last Friday, May 10, 2024 noted that the degrees of UNN are awarded to only those who have been found worthy in character and learning.
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“Following the assertion of the Vice Chancellor on integrity and credibility, the allegations brought to the fore by Professor Felicia Isiogugu will not be allowed to be swept under the carpet as the image of UNN is at stake”, the staff added.

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