UniCal suspends HOD for allegedly manipulating exam scores

The University of Calabar (UniCal) has suspended Joseph Akpan, a lecturer and Head of the Department (HOD) of Pharmacology, due to alleged misconduct involving the alteration of examination scores.

The Vice-Chancellor (V-C), Prof. Florence Obi, announced the suspension on Wednesday in Calabar. She stated that Akpan is accused of manipulating 235 examination result scripts while in his position as HOD.

According to the V-C, Akpan allegedly altered the scores for students enrolled in the Introduction to General Antimicrobial Pharmacology (PHM 311) course. Out of the 242 result scripts under his care, only five were genuinely marked without alteration.

Furthermore, she alleged that Akpan awarded marks to two students who did not participate in the examination. It is reported that he admitted to the misconduct before the Senate Examination Misconduct Committee (SEMC), claiming he inflated the scores to protect the department’s image—an explanation the management finds “ridiculous and unacceptable.”

As a result, the university management has decided to relieve Akpan of his roles as HOD and Coordinator of PHM 311, effective October 8, 2024. His official duties will be reassigned to other qualified lecturers in the department.

He has also been instructed to stay away from the university unless responding to relevant committee invitations.