The Senate of Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, Kogi State, has approved the expulsion of six students over gross examination misconduct after they were discovered to have rewritten an examination at a lecturer’s private residence.
The Senate also approved the withdrawal of nine other students due to poor academic performance and failure to register for two consecutive semesters.
The decisions formed part of the major resolutions reached at the 167th Regular Meeting of the university’s Senate, held on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the university auditorium.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Uredo Omale.
According to the statement, the university management took action on July 1, 2026, after receiving credible information that a lecturer was arranging for students to rewrite an examination at his residence.
“On 1st July, 2026, the University Management acted based on credible information that a Lecturer was coordinating students to re-write an examination at his residence.”
”This led to the arrest of Dr Maji Okpanachi of the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology and some students along with some exhibits from his private residence, behind the Police Area Command Office, along Idah Road, Anyigba by the security operatives of the University,” Omale stated.
She explained that the security report was later forwarded to the Examination Misconduct Committee, which investigated the matter before its findings were presented to the Senate at the 167th Regular Meeting.
“The committee report further confirmed the security report as well as the confessional statements by the Lecturer and the students involved and other available records, that some students re-wrote the examination at the lecturer’s residence, days after the examination was written.
“The committee further revealed that the affected students paid the sum of N10,000 each to the lecturer to re-write the Course: BOT102 (Introduction to Plant Science) at the residence of the course lecturer, Dr. Maji Okpanachi,” she added.
Omale said the Senate also approved the referral of Okpanachi to the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee for appropriate disciplinary measures in line with the university’s established rules and regulations.
She further disclosed that the Senate, in a related development, approved the withdrawal of nine students for poor academic performance and failure to meet the institution’s registration requirements.
Reacting to the decisions, the Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of Senate, Prof. Salisu Ogbo Usman, reaffirmed the commitment of the Senate and university management to upholding academic excellence, discipline, integrity, patriotism and quality assurance.
He maintained that the university would not permit any action capable of undermining the credibility and integrity of its academic and examination processes.
Usman praised the committees responsible for conducting the investigations, noting that their findings reflected the university’s resolve to promote accountability and protect the integrity of its academic system.
He restated the management’s determination to maintain a culture of academic discipline, responsibility and ethical behaviour among staff and students, emphasising that all members of the university community must comply with the rules regulating examinations and other academic activities.
The Vice-Chancellor also advised students to remain committed to their studies, maintain high standards of character and learning, and strictly observe the university’s academic and examination regulations.
“The affected students have been directed to surrender all University property in their possession, including identity cards and other official items, to the appropriate authorities before exiting the University,” the PRO added.
