UniCal Suspends HOD for Alleged Examination Score Alterations

The University of Calabar has suspended a lecturer and Head of Pharmacology Department, Akpan, for allegedly altering 235 examination scripts and inflating student scores in an effort to protect the department’s image.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar (UniCal), Prof. Florence Obi, announced on Wednesday in Calabar the suspension of a lecturer accused of tampering with examination results. The lecturer, who served as the Head of the Department (HOD) of Pharmacology, is alleged to have altered 235 examination scripts.

Prof. Obi revealed that the suspended HOD, identified as Akpan, manipulated scores for students in the “Introduction to General Antimicrobial Pharmacology” (PHM 311) course. Of the 242 result scripts under his care, 235 were allegedly altered, while only five remained untouched.

In addition, Akpan reportedly assigned marks to two students who did not sit for the examinations. The Vice-Chancellor stated that Akpan admitted to the misconduct before the Senate Examination Misconduct Committee (SEMC), explaining that he inflated the scores to protect the department’s reputation—an excuse deemed unacceptable by the university management.

As a result, the university has removed Akpan from his role as HOD and coordinator of PHM 311, and suspended him from duty effective October 8, 2024. His responsibilities will be reassigned to other qualified lecturers. He has also been instructed to stay off university premises unless summoned by relevant committees.

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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, VANGUARD