UNICAL Dismisses Five Academic Staff, Demotes 10

[TGD]

 THE Governing Council of the University of Calabar has dismissed five academic staff and demoted 10 others for what it referred to as "academic dishonesty".

A release from the Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Effiong Eyo, quoting the Secretary to Council and Registrar of the Institution, Dr ( Mrs.) Julia Omang disclosed that the action was necessary to check further academic dishonesty.

He said four of the dismissed academic staff were involved in plagiarism while one was a case of financial fraud.

The release added that "the 10 academics that were demoted chose to publish their works in fake or cloned journals and proceeded to submit same and obtained promotion in the process.

"The academic staff that have been dismissed for outright plagiarism include, Dr. Azubuike Iloeje and Dr. Maurice Bisong of the Department of English and Literary Studies, Mr. Oden Ubi (Department of Marketing) and Dr. Paulinus Noah of the Department of Linguistics and Communication Studies. Dr. Damian Agom was dismissed for salary overpayment, enriching himself to the uone of N7, 268,044. 95 over a period of 11 months".

The release further stated that "the 10 academic staff demoted for publishing in fake or cloned journals include Professor Udoayang, Dr. Asuquo Akabom, Dr. Sunday Effiong and Dr. C. O. Udoka, all of Accounting Department, Professor Molinta Enendu Department of Theatre and Media Studies and Dr. E.S.Akpan of Banking and Finance

"Others include Dr. A.I. Afangideh and Dr. Francis Okpiliya of the Department of Geography and Environment Science and Dr. K.B.C Ashipu of the Department of English and Literary Studies.

Professors Udoayang and Enendu, Dr. Okpiliya, Dr. Afangideh and Dr. Ashipu were demoted to the ranks of Senior Lecturers, others were stepped down to Lecturer 1".

Besides their demotion, he said "they are to refund all monies earned from their unmerited promotion and barred from promotion for the next six years".

The action by the university, according to Eyo, was carried out after due investigation on the matter.



The Guardian