UNICAL Head of Department Removed Over Alleged Extortion of Students

Sylvester Ohadoma has been removed as the Head of the Department (HoD) of Pharmacology, University of Calabar.

His removal was approved by the Management of the University of Calabar.

Registrar of the institution, Gabriel Egbe said in a statement on Monday, January 23, that Ohadoma was removed as the HoD, for “consistently flouting” the university Senate’s directives concerning extortion and collection of unapproved levies from students.

He has also been barred from having any direct academic interface with students for one year.

Egbe said the decision was in tandem with management’s decision to rid the institution of all forms of unethical practices, especially extortion of students.

The statement read;

“Management received a report that 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 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.

“As part of disciplinary measures, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, has approved that 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 Ohadoma, including teaching and supervision, are to be re-assigned to other qualified lecturers in the department.

“Ohadoma is barred from having any direct academic interface with students for one year.

“Ohadoma has been further ordered to refund all unauthorised monies which he collected from students and provide evidence of such refund to the vice-chancellor through the Director, SERVICOM within the next.”