The University of Calabar (UniCal) has suspended one of its lecturers, Joseph Akpan, for alleged misconduct involving the manipulation of examination scores. This announcement was made on Wednesday by the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, during a press briefing in Calabar.
Prof. Obi disclosed that Akpan, who held the position of Head of Department (HOD) for Pharmacology, reportedly altered a staggering 235 examination result scripts. This misconduct pertains specifically to the scores of students enrolled in the Introduction to General Antimicrobial Pharmacology (PHM 311) course. Out of a total of 242 result scripts entrusted to him, only five were marked without any alterations, highlighting the extent of the alleged malpractice.
“The lecturer also (allegedly) gave out marks to two students, who did not participate in the examinations,” the Vice Chancellor stated, emphasizing the severity of the situation. She noted that Akpan’s actions were not only unethical but also undermined the integrity of the academic evaluation process.
In a further revelation, Prof. Obi explained that Akpan allegedly confessed to his misdeeds before the Senate Examination Misconduct Committee (SEMC). He reportedly admitted to inflating the scores of students in PHM 311 in a misguided attempt to protect the department’s image—a justification the university management found “ridiculous and unacceptable.”
As a result of these serious allegations, the management of UniCal has taken decisive action. Akpan has been relieved of his duties as HOD and Coordinator of PHM 311, and he has been suspended from his teaching responsibilities effective October 8, 2024. The Vice Chancellor confirmed that his official responsibilities would be reassigned to other qualified lecturers within the department.
“He has also been directed to stay away from the university forthwith unless while responding to the invitation of relevant committees,” she added, underscoring the university’s commitment to maintaining academic integrity and upholding the standards of the institution.
