(DDM) – The National Industrial Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, has adjourned until May 21 for the hearing of a suit challenging the appointment of the substantive Vice-Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam.
The case, marked NICN/ARJ/275/2025, was filed by Prof. Chike Osegbue against Prof. Kate Omenugha and five others. Osegbue is seeking the nullification of Omenugha’s appointment as substantive Vice-Chancellor of the institution.
Prof. Omenugha was appointed on August 6, 2025, by Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, who serves as Visitor to the university, following the conclusion of the selection process.
According to court documents, Osegbue contends that he emerged first among the three candidates recommended by the university’s Governing Council and, therefore, should have been appointed in line with the provisions of the COOU Law 2014. He is asking the court to declare him the substantive Vice-Chancellor.
The selection exercise was conducted by a joint committee of the University Council and Senate representatives under the chairmanship of Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, who is also listed as a defendant in the suit.
Other defendants include the Governor of Anambra State, the Attorney-General of Anambra State, the Governing Council of COOU, and the university itself.
Osegbue argues that Omenugha’s appointment contravenes provisions of the COOU Law 2014, particularly Ordinance II (4)(d) and Statute VI (1) of the First Schedule. He maintains that the law stipulates that the candidate with the highest score in the selection process should be appointed, or alternatively, that the second- or third-ranked candidates may only be considered upon recommendation by the council.
He is therefore seeking a declaration that Omenugha’s appointment is null and void on the grounds that it allegedly violates the relevant statutory provisions.
When the matter came up in court, counsel to the claimant, Mr. Kaine Anunwune, representing Mr. J.S. Okutepa, SAN, moved an application to regularise a counter-motion in response to the defendants’ preliminary objection.
Counsel to the first and second defendants, Mr. Patrick Ikweto, SAN, also filed an application seeking leave to submit a further counter and requested permission to file a clean copy within seven days.
Presiding Judge, Justice John Tergama, granted the applications and directed that all pending applications, alongside the substantive suit, be heard together.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter until May 21 for hearing.
