Kogi Varsity Expels Six Students, Sanctions Lecturer Over Private Exam

Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, Kogi State, has expelled six 100-level students over alleged examination misconduct after they were found to have participated in a rewritten examination at the residence of a university lecturer.

The decision was reached by the University Senate during its 167th Regular Meeting held on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the University Auditorium.

The Senate also approved the withdrawal of nine other students for reasons including poor academic performance and failure to register for two consecutive semesters.

The examination misconduct case reportedly came to the attention of the university on July 1, following information that students were allegedly being coordinated to rewrite an examination at the private residence of a lecturer.

Acting on the information, university security personnel arrested Dr Maji Okpanachi of the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology alongside some students at his residence located behind the Police Area Command Office along Idah Road, Anyigba. Items believed to be connected to the incident were also recovered.

The matter was subsequently forwarded to the Examination Misconduct Committee for investigation. Its findings were later presented to the Senate for consideration.

According to the committee’s report, investigations and statements obtained from the lecturer and affected students established that some students had rewritten BOT102, Introduction to Plant Science, at the lecturer’s residence several days after the original examination.

The committee further reported that the students allegedly paid N10,000 each to participate in the exercise.

Following consideration of the report, the Senate approved the expulsion of the six students identified as Itodo Ojonugwa Jeremiah, Olloh Kizito Ojoajogwu, Okpanachi Favour, Abdulkadiri Senusi, Umar Imran and Lawrence Salami.

The Senate also referred Dr Okpanachi to the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee for further disciplinary action in accordance with the university’s regulations.

Meanwhile, six students were withdrawn for failing to register for two consecutive semesters. They are Suleiman Salamatu, Abdullahi Hossana, Anaja Victor Anome, Emmanuel Arome, Odutola Nancy Oluwanifemi and Olarewaju Segun Abayomi.

Three students from the Department of Communication and Media Studies, namely Adam Safiyat, Musa Favour and Umolo John Philip, were also withdrawn over poor academic performance.

However, the case involving Jude Ojoajogwu Itodo was returned to the Examination Misconduct Committee for further investigation.

Speaking on the decisions, the Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of Senate, Prof. Salisu Ogbo Usman, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to maintaining academic integrity, discipline and quality assurance.

He warned that the institution would not tolerate activities capable of compromising the credibility of its examinations and academic processes.

The Vice-Chancellor commended the committees responsible for investigating the cases and urged students to remain committed to their studies, uphold good conduct and comply with the university’s academic and examination regulations.

The affected students were also directed to return university property in their possession, including identity cards and other official materials, to the appropriate authorities before leaving the institution.