The recently sacked Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Bernard Odoh, has rejected his removal via a press release, saying it did not follow due process.

Prof. Odoh, whose appointment as Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka was announced on October 31, was removed on Wednesday by President Bola Tinubu, alongside the Registrar, Rosemary Ifeoma Nwokike, and the university’s Governing Council.

Prof. Odoh’s removal came through a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

“The sacking of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council illegally appointed an unqualified vice-chancellor without following due process,” Onanuga said in the statement.

“After the controversial appointment, the Federal Government stepped in to address tensions between the university’s Senate and the governing council of the 23-year-old institution.

“The government expressed concern over the council’s apparent disregard for the university’s governing laws in its selection process,” he said.

But reacting to his removal by the President, Prof. Odoh said he was not appointed Vice-Chancellor through a press release and so cannot be removed through a press release.

Speaking in an interview on AriseTV on Thursday, he dismissed claims that he was not qualified to be Vice-Chancellor.

“I’m qualified for this position. Three assessors assessed me. I became a professor on October 1, 2015,” Prof. Odoh said.

“I applied for the position. I applied and was appointed. I’m not imposing myself on the institution. But the issue of not being a professor is all lies. People paid to remove my records from a university.

“I’m not disobeying Mr. President, but it is the governing council that will recommend my sack,” he said.

Prof. Odoh said the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, jumped the gun as the court had not ruled on this matter.

“I cannot be removed through a press release,” he said.

“There was no panel of inquiry. I was not appointed through a press release. The visitor (Tinubu) has not invited me to hear my side of the story,” he further said.

Prof. Odoh said his state of origin, Ebonyi, was the reason people feel he’s not qualified to be Vice-Chancellor.

“We are regarded as third class people. People feel I’m not qualified because I come from Ebonyi State.

“I am going to the university to ensure that activities and accreditation go on. No vice-chancellor, no registrar, no governing council?

“Mr. President must have been ill-advised. He can remove me but only through the council,” he said.