The University of Calabar (UNICAL) has suspended 19 students for the entire 2025/2026 academic session following proven cases of examination misconduct, as announced by the university administration on July 7, 2026.
Disciplinary Committee Recommendations Upheld
The suspensions were implemented after the university's senate approved recommendations from the Students’ Disciplinary Committee. The Director of Administration, Dr. Citizen Ekpo, communicated the decision in a letter signed on behalf of the Registrar, Dr. Chukwuka Icha. The Head of the Public Relations Unit, Mr. Effiong Eyo, confirmed that the senate ratified the committee's findings, leading to the one-session ban for all affected students.
According to Eyo, the students will be allowed to resume their studies in the 2026/2027 academic session. He emphasized that the university has directed all deans, heads of departments, and relevant units to enforce the suspension and ensure full compliance with the directive.
Faculties and Departments Affected
The 19 suspended students come from a wide range of faculties, including Administration, Social Sciences, Biological Sciences, Arts, Education, Allied Medical Sciences, Pharmacy, and Environmental Sciences. Additionally, students from Nursing Science, Peace and Conflict Studies, Science Laboratory Technology, Estate Management, Marketing, and other related departments were among those penalized.
This development underscores ongoing challenges in maintaining examination ethics within Nigerian tertiary institutions. Examination misconduct, as defined by UNICAL, includes any unethical or fraudulent behavior by students to gain an unfair advantage during assessments.
UNICAL's Institutional Background
UNICAL is one of Nigeria's second-generation federal universities, established in 1975 in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State. It originally operated as a campus of the University of Nigeria (UNN) before becoming a full-fledged federal university. The institution has a history of enforcing academic discipline, with this latest action reflecting its commitment to upholding integrity in examinations.
Related Incidents at Other Institutions
In a similar vein, the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) recently suspended two students over allegations of cyberbullying involving a former Student Union Government president, James Adio. The disciplinary action followed the online circulation of a private video linked to Adio, which attracted widespread attention across Nigeria. Student groups and commentators questioned the university's handling of the controversy and called for sanctions against those responsible for leaking private content.
UNICAL's Recent Admission Developments
Meanwhile, UNICAL has also announced the commencement of its 2026/2027 Post-UTME and Direct Entry screening exercise for qualified applicants. The institution stated that candidates who scored at least 150 in the UTME and selected UNICAL as their first choice were eligible to apply. The university introduced a fully digital registration process and warned that false declarations would lead to disqualification.
The suspension of 19 students serves as a reminder of the strict academic policies in place at UNICAL and the broader Nigerian university system, as institutions continue to address examination misconduct and uphold educational standards.
