The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Awka Division, has fixed October 15 for judgement on the suit challenging the appointment of Kate Omenugha as the vice-chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra.

This followed the oral arguments and adoption of written processes by parties in the suit on Tuesday.

Chike Osegbue, in a suit marked NICN/ARJ/275/2025, is asking the court to nullify the August 6, 2025 appointment of Ms Omenugha as the substantive vice-chancellor of the Anambra government-owned university.

Other respondents in the matter are Governor Charles Soludo, the attorney general of Anambra, Chidi Odinkalu, the COOU Council, and the university itself.

Before adopting his processes, J.S. Okutepa, Mr Osegbue’s lawyer, argued that Ms Omenugha’s appointment flagrantly disregarded the university law and due process as exercised by the selection committee under the then-pro-chancellor, Chidi Odinkalu.

Mr Okutepa said the claimant did not complain to the visitor or the vice-chancellor as part of exploring internal mechanisms for redress because they were responsible for and beneficiaries of the injury he sought remedy for.

He urged the court to dismiss the defendants’ objections and declare that Mr Osegbue be appointed vice-chancellor in line with the COOU law.

“The crux of the matter is that there was a vacancy for the position of VC and the claimant, with others, applied.

“After the process, the claimant was first and recommended for appointment, but the governor ignored him and appointed his candidate who did not come close or fall among the third in the scoring,” he said.

In his argument, Patrick Ikwueto, Ms Omenugha and Mr Soludo’s lawyer, urged the court to determine the case based on the document before it. He adopted his processes and urged the court to dismiss the prayers, arguing that the selection process was not fully compliant with the university’s rules.

Mr Ikwueto urged the court to determine whether the committee followed its own criteria and whether their recommendation to the governor followed the criteria in the university law.

He said the governor visitor acted within the law and exercised reasonable discretion to make the appointment. 

After hearing the arguments, Justice John Tergama, who presided, fixed October 15 to deliver a judgement on the matter. 

(NAN)