The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) has expelled a third-year student in the Department of History and International Studies, Goddy-Mbakwe Chimamaka Precious, for assaulting a lecturer.
This was announced on Friday in a statement by the Acting Registrar, Victor Modebelu.
Modebelu noted that the Acting Vice-Chancellor had received a report from the Student Disciplinary Committee regarding the incident involving a lecturer from the Department of Theatre and Film Studies.
According to the statement, Chimamaka was found guilty of gross misconduct and violating the Students Disciplinary Regulations, particularly Regulation 4.
The letter stated: “The Ag. Vice-Chancellor has received the report from the Student Disciplinary Committee on the case of your assault on a lecturer from the Department of Theatre and Film Studies, which was found to be gross misconduct and a violation of the Students Disciplinary Regulations, particularly Regulation 4 (SDR).
“Consequently, the Ag. Vice-Chancellor has, on behalf of the University Senate, approved the Committee’s recommendation that you be expelled. You are hereby expelled from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, with immediate effect.
“You are expected to vacate the University premises immediately and return any University property in your possession.”
In a viral video on Tuesday, Chimamaka, was seen around the corridors dancing in front of her phone, capturing a TikTok moment when the lecturer, Dr. Chukwudi Michael Okoye, walked from behind.
The lecturer gently tapped the female student on the shoulder, asking her to give way but the student was pissed by the lecturer’s action and interruption of her video moment.
However, the situation escalated into a physical confrontation when Okoye overheard the student insulting him and returned to confront her.
Upon returning, he noticed she was recording a video. Not wanting to be captured, he reached for the student’s phone but she aggressively grabbed his clothes. During the struggle, she bit him multiple times and tore his clothes.
In a statement circulating on social media, Dr Okoye narrating what happened, claimed that after walking past the student, he overheard her insulting him and decided to return to verify if she was one of his students.
He then reportedly demanded that she delete the video in which he appeared, which led to the altercation.
READ ALSO: UNIZIK female student bites lecturer for interrupting her TikTok video recording
In the process, the lecturer alleged that the student bit him on both arms, tore his clothes, slapped and scratched his face.
The lecturer’s account reads: “My theatre arts people, I had just left hall 19, where Dr Ebekue (another lecturer) was teaching. Walking along the passage, I saw a girl doing a video with her phone (she had placed the phone on the window hood and was striking poses in the middle of the walkway),” he said.
“Tapping her slightly, I asked her to excuse me as I walked past. After about two or three steps, I heard her say, ‘Who does this man think he is?’ I walked back to ascertain first if she was my student and second to make sure she deleted the video showing where I passed.
However, in her account, Chimamaka said she was recording a video when she felt someone push her and said “Excuse me”.
“Initially, I thought it was a student, but when I turned around, I was shocked to see a man –a lecturer unbeknownst to me. I whispered to my friend, ‘Omo, see how this lecturer pushed me,’ and my friend tried to reassure me,” she wrote.
The student said someone immediately tried to grab her phone from behind her but she held on tightly before turning to see it was the same person who interrupted her video.
“Mind you, I didn’t even know he was a lecturer. I pleaded with him, ‘sorry sir, why are you dragging my phone? But he remained silent, tugging at my phone until it fell and broke,” she said.
She also claimed the lecturer grabbed her “breast region and said unspeakable things” to her.
“I was left stunned, trying to comprehend the horror unfolding before me. As I realised my cleavage was exposed, I begged him to let me go, but he ignored my pleas, holding me firmly. His nails and clutches left certain prints and scratches on my chest rather,” she wrote.
“I was mortified. I tried to cover myself, pulling my dress together, and exclaimed in desperation, ‘Sir, I’ll hold you oh! I didn’t mean to threaten him; I just wanted him to release me. But he wouldn’t budge.
“In a split second, I bit his hands, hoping he’d let go. That was when I held his clothes and accidentally tore his shirt.
“The situation escalated, with some students intervening and in no time, I saw theatre arts students (from his department) approaching me with weapons. I was so terrified and hurt. The securities eventually arrive, taking me away in their van.”
