Six students at Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU) in Anyigba, Kogi State, have been expelled after they were caught rewriting an examination at their lecturer's private residence.
The students, all from the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, were removed from the university after the Senate approved their expulsion for gross examination misconduct. They had paid ₦10,000 each to rewrite BOT102, Introduction to Plant Science, days after the original test was conducted.
University security operatives arrested the lecturer, Dr Maji Okpanachi, and some students at his residence behind the Police Area Command Office along Idah Road, Anyigba. The arrests came after the university received credible information that a lecturer was coordinating students to rewrite an examination at his home.
The incident came to light on July 1, 2026, according to a statement by the university's Public Relations Officer, Uredo Omale. Exhibits were recovered from the residence, the university said.
The matter was referred to the university's Examination Misconduct Committee, whose findings were presented to the Senate. The committee corroborated the security report through confessional statements from the lecturer and students involved, as well as other available records.
The committee found that some of the students had rewritten the examination days after the original was conducted. It also found that each student paid the lecturer ₦10,000 to do so.
The expelled students are Itodo Ojonugwa Jeremiah, Olloh Kizito Ojoajogwu, Okpanachi Favour, Abdulkadiri Senusi, Umar Imran and Lawrence Salami.
The university also referred Okpanachi to its Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee for appropriate disciplinary action in line with its rules and regulations.
The decisions were taken during the university's 167th Regular Meeting of Senate held in August 2026.
In a separate decision, the Senate approved the withdrawal of nine other students. Six were withdrawn for failing to register for two consecutive semesters, while three were withdrawn over poor academic performance.
The university's response to the incident involved action against both the students and the staff member who compromised the examination process.
According to Pulse.ng.
