Six students of Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, Kogi State, have been expelled after an investigation found that they paid ₦10,000 each to rewrite an examination at the private residence of their lecturer.
The students were expelled for gross examination misconduct following the approval of the sanction by the university’s Senate at its 167th Regular Meeting held on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
The university’s Public Relations Officer, Uredo Omale, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, explaining that the students rewrote the examination for BOT102, Introduction to Plant Science, several days after the original examination had been conducted.
According to Omale, the university management had on July 1, 2026, acted on credible information that a lecturer was coordinating students to rewrite an examination at his residence.
Security operatives subsequently arrested Dr Maji Okpanachi of the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology alongside some students at his residence behind the Police Area Command Office, along Idah Road, Anyigba.
The operation also led to the recovery of exhibits, after which the matter was referred to the university’s Examination Misconduct Committee for investigation.
Omale said the committee’s findings corroborated the security report and were further supported by confessional statements from the lecturer and students involved, as well as other records.
“The committee further revealed that the affected students paid the sum of N10,000 each to the lecturer to re-write the Course: BOT102 (Introduction to Plant Science) at the residence of the course lecturer, Dr. Maji Okpanachi,” she stated.
Following consideration of the committee’s report, the Senate approved the expulsion of the six students.
However, Okpanachi was not expelled. Instead, the Senate approved his referral to the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee for appropriate disciplinary action in line with the university’s regulations.
The Senate also approved the withdrawal of nine other students for poor academic performance and failure to register for two consecutive semesters.
Reacting to the decisions, the Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of Senate, Prof. Salisu Ogbo Usman, said the sanctions reflected the institution’s determination to protect the credibility of its academic and examination processes.
Usman warned that the university would not tolerate conduct capable of compromising academic integrity, examination standards and quality assurance.
He commended the committees involved in investigating the matter, saying their work demonstrated the university’s commitment to accountability and discipline.
The Vice-Chancellor urged students to concentrate on their studies, maintain good character and comply with all academic and examination regulations.
The university further directed the expelled students to surrender all its property in their possession, including identity cards and other official items, to the appropriate authorities before leaving the institution.
