The Vice-Chancellor of University of Calabar (UNICAL), Prof. Florence Obi, has confirmed the suspension of Joseph Akpan, a lecturer accused of manipulating examination scores.
Akpan, the Head of Pharmacology Department, faces allegations of tampering with 235 out of 242 exam scripts for the “Introduction to General Antimicrobial Pharmacology” (PHM 311) course.
This means that only five scripts were left unaltered under Akpan’s supervision, according to the Vice-Chancellor.
Prof. Obi who said that the remaining scripts were allegedly tampered with, including giving marks to two students who did not sit the examination.
According to Obi, Akpan confessed to the misconduct before the Senate Examination Misconduct Committee (SEMC) of the university.
Obi said that in his admission to the allegation, Akpan claimed he inflated the scores to protect the department’s image, a justification the university deemed both “ridiculous and unacceptable.”
“As a result of these actions, the university has decided to relieve Akpan of his roles as HOD and Coordinator of PHM 311, effective October 8, 2024,” Obi said on Wednesday when she confirmed Akpan’s suspension.
She added that Akpan has been suspended from his duties, and his official responsibilities will be reassigned to other qualified faculty members in the department.
Akpan has also been directed to stay away from the university, except when responding to official invitations from relevant committees.