By Our Correspondent
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) has fixed October 15 for judgment in the suit filed by Prof. Chike Osegbue challenging the appointment of Prof. Kate Omenugha as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam.
The date was fixed after counsel to the parties adopted their written addresses and presented oral arguments on Tuesday.
In the suit, marked NICN/ARJ/275/2025, Osegbue is asking the court to nullify Omenugha’s appointment as substantive Vice-Chancellor, made on August 6, 2025.
The other respondents are Governor Chukwuma Soludo; the Attorney-General of Anambra State; Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, the COOU Governing Council ; and the university.
Osegbue is also praying the court to declare him the substantive Vice-Chancellor, having emerged first in the selection process and having been recommended by the university’s Governing Council to the governor, who is the Visitor to the institution.
Counsel to the claimant, Mr. J. S. Okutepa (SAN), represented by Kaine Anawune, argued that Omenugha’s appointment was made in flagrant disregard of the university’s law and the due process followed by the selection committee under the then Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu( as he then was).
He submitted that the claimant did not petition either the Visitor or the Vice-Chancellor because they were allegedly responsible for, and beneficiaries of, the action being challenged.
Okutepa urged the court to dismiss the preliminary objections raised by the defendants and declare that Osegbue be appointed Vice-Chancellor in accordance with the provisions of the COOU Law.
“The crux of the matter is that there was a vacancy for the office of Vice-Chancellor, for which the claimant and others applied.
“At the end of the selection process, the claimant emerged first and was recommended for appointment. However, the governor ignored the recommendation and appointed his preferred candidate, who neither emerged first nor ranked among the top three candidates,” he argued.
Responding, counsel to Omenugha and Governor Soludo, Mr. Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), urged the court to determine the case strictly on the basis of the documents before it.
He adopted his written processes and asked the court to dismiss the claimant’s prayers, contending that the selection process was not fully compliant with the provisions of the university’s law.
According to him, the court should determine whether the selection committee adhered to its own criteria and whether its recommendation to the governor complied with the governing law of the university.
He maintained that the governor, as Visitor to the university, acted within the law and properly exercised his discretion in making the appointment.
After hearing the submissions of counsel, Justice John Tergema adjourned the matter until Oct. 15 for judgment.
