The Management of University of Calabar, has suspended its Head of the Department of Pharmacology, University of Calabar, Dr Sylvester Ohadoma, over alleged extortion of students.
According to The PUNCH, this was disclosed by the school’s management through a press release signed on Monday in Calabar by the Registrar of the institution, Mr Gabriel Egbe.
Ohadoma was dismissed, according to Egbe, for persistently disobeying the university Senate’s instructions against extortion and the collection of unapproved levies from students. She added that the dismissal followed management’s decision to get rid of all unethical behavior at the organization, particularly student extortion.
“Management received a report that Dr Ohadoma as HOD, Pharmacology and Coordinator of the course, Principles of Pharmacology 322, illegally charged and collected the sum of N3,200 from students for what he termed “practical fees”.
“This is even as Dr Ohadoma is said to have extorted the same amount from students in the previous semesters, in addition to selling textbooks for as much as N12,000 each to students in flagrant contravention of management’s directive,” he said.
Egbe said that the current administration of the university finds it repugnant that a person who should take the lead in defending the institution’s integrity is involved in such unwholesome acts, and that the administration would not tolerate any unethical behavior by staff members.
“As part of disciplinary measures, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, has approved that Dr Ohadoma should be relieved of his appointment as HOD and Coordinator of Principles of Pharmacology 322 with effect from January 23, 2023.
“Management has further instructed that all official responsibilities hitherto handled by Dr Ohadoma, including teaching and supervision, are to be re-assigned to other qualified lecturers in the department.
“Dr Ohadoma is barred from having any direct academic interface with students for one year.
“Dr Ohadoma has been further ordered to refund all unauthorized monies which he collected from students and provide evidence of such refund to the Vice Chancellor through the Director, SERVICOM within the next month.
“While hoping that this will serve as a deterrent to others, management has directed the Dean, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences to ensure strict and full compliance with the directives,” he said.
