Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
The Senate of the University of Calabar has suspended nine students for one academic session following their involvement in examination misconduct, in a decision that underscores the institution's determination to protect the integrity of its academic processes.
According to a statement issued by the university's Public Relations Unit and made available to newsmen in Calabar on Monday, the suspension was conveyed to the affected students in letters signed by the Registrar, Dr Chukwuka Icha. The action followed the approval of the Senate based on recommendations by its Examination Misconduct Committee. "The affected students have been suspended for the 2026/2027 academic session and are expected to resume their studies in the 2027/2028 academic session," the statement read.
The nine students are drawn from five departments across four faculties. Five of the affected students are from the Department of Theatre and Media Studies in the Faculty of Arts. The remaining four are from the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics in the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, the Department of Geology in the Faculty of Physical Sciences, the Department of Pharmacology in the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, and the Department of Sociology in the Faculty of Social Sciences. The university directed the Acting Chief Security Officer, deans, heads of departments and other relevant units to take note of the suspension and ensure full compliance with the directive.
The decision is the latest in a series of disciplinary actions taken by the University of Calabar over examination-related offences, reflecting a sustained institutional crackdown on academic fraud. In March 2026, the institution suspended nine students for two academic sessions after five were caught inside the examination hall with unauthorised materials and four others were found to have submitted forged results to the university. That decision was reached at the 252nd Senate meeting following reports presented by the Ad-Hoc Senate Committee on Examination Malpractice and the Senate Students' Disciplinary Committee. The affected students at the time included five from the Department of Pharmacy, as well as students from Home Economics, Zoology, Science Laboratory Technology, and Linguistics and Communication Studies.
The university's disciplinary measures have not been limited to students. In July 2026, the Governing Council of the University of Calabar dismissed eight members of staff and sanctioned another over offences ranging from examination misconduct and falsification of results to theft and abandonment of duty. Among those dismissed was Prof. Emilia Oyira of the Department of Nursing Science, who was found culpable of examination misconduct. The council also sanctioned another staff member with a two-year promotion delay. The decisions were reached at the council's meeting held on July 3, 2026, and announced in a statement signed by the university's Registrar.
In a separate development in July 2026, the university suspended 19 students for one academic session over alleged examination misconduct, following recommendations by the Students' Disciplinary Committee. The suspension, which covered the 2025/2026 academic session, was conveyed in a letter signed by the Director of Administration, Dr Citizen Ekpo, on behalf of the Registrar. The affected students were drawn from various faculties, including Administration, Social Sciences, Biological Sciences, Arts, Education, Allied Medical Sciences, Pharmacy and Environmental Sciences. The university said the students would resume their studies in the 2026/2027 academic session.
The pattern of sanctions reflects a broader institutional posture that the university has maintained across multiple academic sessions. In July 2026, the university's Governing Council also cleared 13 lecturers of allegations of academic misconduct following its consideration and adoption of the report of the Complaints and Disciplinary Committee constituted to investigate the matter. The mixed outcomes, with some staff dismissed and others cleared, indicate that the university's disciplinary processes involve detailed investigation and deliberation rather than blanket sanctions.
Reactions to the latest suspension were not immediately available from the affected students or their representatives. The university has not disclosed the specific nature of the examination misconduct that led to the sanctions, nor has it provided details about the evidence presented to the Examination Misconduct Committee. The institution's decision to issue letters through the Registrar and to direct deans and heads of departments to ensure compliance suggests a formal and structured approach to the disciplinary process.
The suspensions come amid a broader national conversation about examination malpractice in Nigerian tertiary institutions. The Federal Government has introduced measures to curb malpractice, including the deployment of technology to detect cheating and the strengthening of oversight mechanisms. The University of Calabar's actions reflect the growing pressure on universities to demonstrate zero tolerance for academic dishonesty. The institution's decision to impose a full academic session suspension, rather than a lighter sanction, signals that it regards examination misconduct as a serious offence warranting significant consequences.
For the nine students affected by Monday's decision, the suspension means they will sit out the entire 2026/2027 academic session and will not be eligible to resume their studies until the 2027/2028 session. The gap of one academic year represents a significant disruption to their academic trajectories, particularly for those in professional programmes such as Pharmacology and Human Nutrition and Dietetics, where curriculum sequencing is tightly structured. The university has not indicated whether the students will be required to repeat the affected courses or whether they will be readmitted automatically upon the expiration of their suspension.
The university's Public Relations Unit confirmed that the statement was signed by the Registrar and that the affected students had been formally notified. The institution has consistently maintained that academic integrity is non-negotiable and that disciplinary measures are applied fairly and in accordance with established regulations. The coming months will determine whether the sanctions serve as a deterrent to other students and whether the university's disciplinary framework continues to be applied consistently across departments and faculties.
For now, the University of Calabar has sent an unambiguous message: examination misconduct carries consequences, and those consequences include the loss of an entire academic session. Whether that message will resonate with the student body, or whether the cycle of malpractice and sanctions will continue, remains to be seen. What is certain is that the institution has reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the standards that underpin the value of its degrees, and it has demonstrated a willingness to apply those standards without exception.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments