Industrial Court fixes Oct. 15 for judgment in Ojukwu Varsity VC appointment suit

Industrial Court fixes Oct. 15 for judgment in Ojukwu Varsity VC appointment suit

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) sitting in  Awka fixes Oct. 15 for judgment on the suit challenging the appointment of Prof. Kate Omenugha as the Vice Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, Anambra.

This followed the oral addresses and adoption of written processes by parties in the suit on Tuesday.

Prof Chike Osegbue, in a suit marked NICN/ARJ/275/2025, is asking the court to nullify the Aug. 6, 2025 appointment of Omenugha as the substantive Vice Chancellor of the Anambra Government owned University.

Other respondents in the matter are Gov. Chukwuma Soludo, Attorney-General of Anambra, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, the COOU Council and the University itself.

Osegbue is praying the court to declare him the substantive vice-chancellor having finished first in the selection process and recommended by the university’s governing council to the governor, who is the visitor for appointment.

Before adopting his processes, Mr J.S. Okutepa (SAN), Counsel to Osegbo argued that the appointment of Omenugha was in flagrant disregard to the law of the University and due process as exercised by the selection committee under the then Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu.

Okutepa, who was represented by Kaine Anawune, said the Claimant did not complain to the Visitor or the Vice Chancellor as part of exploring internal mechanisms for redress because they were responsible and beneficiary for the injury he was seeking remedy for.

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He prayed the court to dismiss the objections of the defendants and declare that Osegbue be appointed Vice Chancellor in line with the Law of COOU.

“The crux of the matter is that there was a vacancy for the position of VC and the claimant with others applied.

“After the process, the claimant was first and recommended for appointment but the governor ignored him and appointed his candidate who did not come close or fall among the third in the scoring,” he said.

In his argument, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN) and counsel to Omenugha and Soludo,  urged the court to determine the case based on the document before it.

He adopted his processes and urged the court to dismiss the prayers arguing that the selection process was not fully compliant with the law of the University.

Ikwueto urged the court to determine whether the committee followed its own criteria and whether their recommendation to the governor followed the criteria in the University law.

He said the governor visitor acted within the law and exercised reasonable discretion to make the appointment.

After hearing the arguments, Justice John Tergama, who presided, fixed Oct. 15 for delivery of judgement on the matter.