The Senate of Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, Kogi State, has expelled six students for gross examination misconduct after they were found to have rewritten an examination at the private residence of a lecturer.
The university also approved the withdrawal of nine other students over poor academic performance and failure to complete their registration for two consecutive semesters.
The decisions were taken during the institution’s 167th Regular Senate Meeting held on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the university auditorium.
The university’s Public Relations Officer, Uredo Omale, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday.
Omale said the management had acted on July 1, 2026, after receiving credible information that a lecturer was allegedly organising for students to rewrite an examination at his residence.
She said the university’s security operatives subsequently 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.
According to the PRO, some exhibits were also recovered during the operation and the security report was forwarded to the Examination Misconduct Committee for investigation.
She said the committee’s findings, which were presented to the Senate, corroborated the security report and were supported by confessional statements from the lecturer and students involved, as well as other available records.
Omale explained that the investigation established that some of the students had rewritten the examination several days after the original exercise was conducted.
She added that the affected students allegedly paid N10,000 each to the lecturer to retake BOT102, titled Introduction to Plant Science, at his residence.
Following consideration of the committee’s report, the Senate approved the expulsion of the six students involved.
The Senate also resolved to refer Okpanachi to the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee for appropriate disciplinary action in line with the university’s regulations.
In a separate decision, the Senate approved the withdrawal of nine students over 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 university management to upholding academic excellence, discipline, integrity and quality assurance.
Usman said the institution would not allow any conduct capable of undermining the credibility of its examination and academic processes.
He commended the committees that investigated the cases, describing their work as an indication of the university’s determination to promote accountability and protect the integrity of its academic system.
The Vice-Chancellor urged students to remain committed to their studies, maintain good conduct and comply with all academic and examination regulations.
The PRO added that the expelled students had been directed to return all university property in their possession, including identity cards and other official items, to the appropriate authorities before leaving the institution.