PAAU Expels Six Students Over Examination Misconduct »

The Senate of Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, has expelled six 100-level students for examination misconduct after they were found to have rewritten a course examination at the private residence of their lecturer.

The students, all of the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, were sanctioned for their involvement in the rewriting of BOT102 (Introduction to Plant Science) several days after the examination had been conducted.

The decision was taken at the university’s 167th Regular Senate Meeting held on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the University Auditorium.

The university said the incident came to light on July 1, 2026, after management received information that a lecturer was coordinating students to rewrite an examination at his residence.

Following the information, security operatives arrested Dr Maji Okpanachi of the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology and some students at his private residence behind the Police Area Command Office, along Idah Road, Anyigba. Exhibits were also recovered during the operation.

The security report was subsequently referred to the Examination Misconduct Committee for investigation.

According to the committee’s findings considered by Senate, the security report was corroborated by confessional statements from the lecturer and students involved, as well as other available records.

The committee established that some students had rewritten the examination at the lecturer’s residence days after the original examination was conducted.

It further found that the affected students paid N10,000 each to the lecturer to rewrite BOT102 at his residence.

Based on the findings, Senate approved the expulsion of the following students for gross examination misconduct:

Itodo Ojonugwa Jeremiah – 26PL1071
Olloh Kizito Ojoajogwu – 26PL1033
Okpanachi Favour – 26PL1065
Abdulkadiri Senusi – 26PL1031
Umar Imran – 26PL1038
Lawrence Salami – 26PL1124

Senate also approved the referral of Dr Maji Okpanachi to the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee for appropriate disciplinary action in line with the university’s established rules and regulations.

In a separate decision, Senate approved the withdrawal of nine students over poor academic performance and violations of registration requirements.

Six students were withdrawn for failing to register for two consecutive semesters. They are Suleiman Salamatu (22SC1059), Social Studies Education; Abdullahi Hossana (21BF1003), Banking and Finance; Anaja Victor Anome (21BF1043), Banking and Finance; Emmanuel Arome (21BF1075), Banking and Finance; Odutola Nancy Oluwanifemi (21BF1138), Banking and Finance; and Olarewaju Segun Abayomi (21BF1147), Banking and Finance.

Three others were withdrawn on grounds of poor academic performance. They are Adam Safiyat (24MC1065), Communication and Media Studies; Musa Favour (24MC1086), Communication and Media Studies; and Umolo John Philip (24MC1192), Communication and Media Studies.

Meanwhile, Senate referred the case of Jude Ojoajogwu Itodo, with matriculation number 26PL1068, back to the Examination Misconduct Committee for further investigation.

Reacting to the decisions, the Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of Senate, Prof. Salisu Ogbo Usman, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to maintaining academic excellence, discipline, integrity and quality assurance.

He said the university would not tolerate acts capable of compromising the credibility and integrity of its academic and examination processes.

Prof. Usman commended the committees involved in the investigations, describing their work as thorough and painstaking. He said the outcome demonstrated the university’s determination to strengthen accountability and protect the integrity of its academic system.

The Vice-Chancellor further urged students to remain focused on their studies, uphold high standards of character and learning, and comply with the university’s academic and examination regulations.

He also stressed that the rules governing examinations and other academic activities must be respected by all members of the university community.

The affected students have been directed to surrender university property in their possession, including identity cards and other official items, to the appropriate authorities before leaving the institution.