….Calls for Immediate Suspension, Investigation of Rev. Casmir Okechukwu Ezike
A prominent civil society organization, the Centre for Public Accountability (CPA), has petitioned the Vice Chancellor of Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, over what it described as “gross breach of university regulations, age limits, and ethical standards” by Mr. Casmir Okechukwu Ezike, who currently serves as the Head of the Department of Life Science Education in the Faculty of Education.
The group accused Mr. Ezike of overstaying in service, manipulating administrative privileges, and engaging in acts that constitute academic fraud.
In a strongly worded petition dated November 3, 2025, and signed by Comrade Nnamdi Okechukwu, Executive Director of CPA, which a copy was obtained by Diaspora Digital Media, the organization alleged that Mr. Ezike had long exceeded the statutory retirement age for university lecturers who are not professors.
According to the document, an affidavit of age sworn to by his mother, Mrs. Lucy Ukamaka Ezike, confirmed that he was born on October 23, 1957, which means he turned 68 this year. The petition further disclosed that he was officially retired from the Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB) in 2010 after completing 35 years of service.
Despite his formal retirement from the civil service, the CPA revealed that Mr. Ezike was later re-engaged by Imo State University. However, it argued that under the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act, 2012, the retirement age for non-professorial academic staff is 65 years.
“By continuing in full-time service beyond 2022, Mr. Ezike has breached the law and undermined the integrity of the university system,” the petition stated.
The group also raised alarm over what it termed a “monumental act of academic fraud.” It alleged that on August 2, 2024, while serving as Head of Department, Mr. Ezike signed and approved his own Ph.D. results — effectively awarding himself a doctorate degree.
The CPA described this act as “a shocking conflict of interest and a desecration of academic due process,” insisting that no credible institution should allow a staff member to preside over their own evaluation or certification.
Beyond these allegations, the Centre accused Mr. Ezike of abusing his position of influence and intimidating colleagues. It claimed that he has repeatedly boasted of being “untouchable,” allegedly citing political connections that protect him from disciplinary action.
CPA warned that such arrogance and impunity, if allowed to persist, would “erode public confidence in the university’s leadership and stain its reputation as a center of learning and moral excellence.”
To address the situation, CPA called for the immediate suspension of Mr. Ezike pending investigation and urged the Vice Chancellor to constitute an independent panel of inquiry.
The group demanded a full probe into his alleged age falsification, illegal tenure, administrative overreach, and the purported self-approval of his Ph.D. results. It further asked for the revocation of any degree awarded through compromised processes and the review of all departmental actions taken under his leadership since 2022.
The petition warned that if IMSU fails to act decisively, CPA would escalate the matter to the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Imo State House of Assembly Committee on Education, and relevant anti-corruption agencies for further investigation.
“The reputation of Imo State University must not be allowed to be tarnished by acts of impunity and ethical decay,” the petition concluded.
At the time of filing this report, the university authorities had not issued any official response to the allegations.
However, sources within the institution say the petition has triggered widespread concern among staff and students, many of whom have called for transparency and accountability in handling the case to safeguard the image of IMSU.
