A 57-year-old lecturer at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) in Abia State, Prof. Patricia Mbah, has responded to a written statement released by the school’s registrar and secretary of the senate’s council, Mrs. Jacinta N. Ogwo-Agu, on the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Francis Otunta being cleared of sexual harassment allegation she levelled against him.

Recall that on Januery 26th, 2020, we reported that the MOUAU’s Registrar and Secretary to Council released a statement stating the the VC had been cleared of all charges. Now we’re learning that may not be so.

In an interview with Linda Ikeji’s Blog, Prof. Mbah stated that she was among the panel formed by the university’s senate to interview Prof. Otunta before his appointment as the Vice Chancellor of the school, after Prof. Hilary Edeoga’s tenure ended. She revealed that Prof. Otunta commenced work on March 1, 2016 after his interview on November 5, 2015.

According to Prof. Mbah, Prof. Otunba told her he would like to work with her, because of the intelligence she exhibited during the interview that made his appointment possible. Shortly afterwards, she alleged being was victimized by the VC for refusing to be “his intimate friend”.

Beside accusing the VC of sexually harassing her, she recounted an “insensitive” comment the VC allegedly made when she was sick. She recalled the VC laughed and told her to check to ensure she didn’t stain the chair she sat on during a meeting with her menstrual bleeding. She underwent a hysterectomy surgery she underwent in 2019, due the continuous bleeding.

Also she recalled that the VC accused her of embezzling N11m meant for the institution, stealing INEC materials after she was appointed a member of an Ad-Hoc election team and being disgraced at general meetings of Deans and HODs, which all resulted from an alleged hatred best known to the VC.

The sexual harassment allegation, among other things, were included in a letter addressed to the Council Chairman of the Institution on September 13, 2019.

See the documents Prof. Mbah made available to the press:

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.