Kogi varsity expels six students over exam malpractice at lecturer’s residence

Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, Kogi State, has expelled six students for examination misconduct after they were found to have rewritten a course examination at the private residence of a lecturer.

The university also withdrew nine other students, with six affected by failure to register for two consecutive semesters and three others due to poor academic performance.

The decisions were taken at the 167th Regular Meeting of the university’s Senate held on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the University Auditorium. The institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs Uredo Omale, disclosed this in a statement.

According to the statement, the examination malpractice case came to light on July 1, 2026, after the university received information that some students were allegedly being organised to rewrite an examination at the private residence of a lecturer in Anyigba.

Following the information, university security operatives arrested Dr Maji Okpanachi of the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology and some students at his residence behind the Police Area Command Office along Idah Road.

The university said its security operatives recovered exhibits from the residence and subsequently referred the matter to the Examination Misconduct Committee for investigation.

The committee, according to the statement, confirmed the security report through confessional statements allegedly made by the lecturer and the students involved, alongside other available records.

The affected students were also alleged to have paid N10,000 each to the lecturer to rewrite the examination.

Following the committee’s report, the Senate approved the expulsion of six 100-level students of the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology: Itodo Ojonugwa Jeremiah, Olooh Kizito Ojoajogwu, Okpanachi Favour, Abdulkadiri Senusi, Umar Imran and Lawrence Salami.

The Senate also referred Dr Maji Okpanachi to the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee for appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with the university’s rules.

Meanwhile, six students were withdrawn from the university for failing to register for two consecutive semesters, while three others were withdrawn on grounds of poor academic performance.