…I am a victim of tribal war- Dr. Eyo Etim
By the Guide Newspaper
Professor Oto-abasi Akpan, the Acting Vice Chancellor of Akwa Ibom State, University, Ikot Akpaden has accused Dr. Eyoh Etim, a lecturer serving in Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden of alleged mutilating students results using his office as Examination Officer.
Prof. Oto-abasi Akpan made the allegation in a press release to counter the claims of Dr. Etim who had alleged in a recent article that he was being victimised and denied promotion by the leadership of the institution.
In a live Facebook broadcast on Thursday, 4 December 2025, Dr Etim had recounted what he described as a decade-long ordeal beginning with unpaid salaries upon his employment in 2014, and culminating in his exclusion from the 2025 promotion appraisal exercise.
He stated that despite meeting all academic requirements for elevation to Senior Lecturer, his name was neither appraised nor considered, a development he said left him distressed when he visited the university’s Establishment Division to check his promotion status.
Dr. Etim, specifically accused the former Dean of the Faculty of Arts and now currently Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Iniobong Umotong, as well as Dr Monica Udoette, of orchestrating actions aimed at stalling his promotion and undermining his academic work.
According to Dr. Etim, “From all indications, I have met the criteria for promotion to Senior Lecturer, with 17 publications, 51 citations and 4 h-index and 2 i10-index. For Senior Lecturer, the University needs 30 citations, 2 h-index and 2 i10-index. My citations are genuine citations, not self-citations or clannish citations that most of them have there.
Let the whole world ask Professor Iniobong Umotong and Dr Monica Udoette what happened to my appraisal form. I cannot continue this way. I know that they have ganged up against me and vowed that I will never be promoted, that lecturers junior to me would come and pass me by. And it has already happened. Both Jackson Etuk and Dr Kufre Akpan are now Senior Lecturers. I am still Lecturer I.”
Responding swiftly to the allegations, the Acting Vice Chancellor of Akwa Ibom State University, Prof. Oto-abasi Akpan said in a press release that Dr. Eyoh Etim’s narration were false, misleading, insensitive and mere figments of his imagination.
Part of the press release which was signed by Prof. Oto-abasi Akpan read: “Contrary to his uncouth diatribes and imaginary vituperations, his narratives were false, misleading and mere figments of his imagination.
To be sure, Dr. Eyo was not promoted when due on account of infractions he committed in the system, which all violates extant laws, regulations, international best practices, conventions and the culture of the university system.
In specific terms, the scholar whose brilliance is not in doubt mutilated results in his capacity as Examination Officer of the Department of English, an offence that is considered gross misconduct as contained in the Conditions of Service of Akwa Ibom State University.”
