The Governing Council of the University of Calabar has dismissed five academic staff and demoted 10 others for what it called “academic dishonesty”.

This was made known in a statement issued by Julia Omang, the Registrar and Secretary to Council, on Friday. She said the disciplinary measure was in furtherance of the institution’s “bid to curb academic dishonesty”.

Ms. Omang said four of the dismissed workers were allegedly involved in plagiarism while the fifth one was involved in alleged financial fraud.

The demoted lecturers chose to publish their works in fake or cloned journals and proceeded to submit same and obtained promotion in the process.

“The academic staff dismissed for outright plagiarism include Dr Azubuike Iloeje and Dr Maurice Bisong of the Department of English and Literary Studies, Mr. Oden Ubi (Department of Marketing) and Dr Paulinus Noah of the Department of Linguistics and Communication Studies.

“Dr Damian Agom was dismissed for salary overpayment, enriching himself to the tune of N7, 268,044. 95 over a period of 11 months.

“The 10 academic staff demoted for publishing in fake or cloned journals include Prof Udoayang, Dr Asuquo Akabom, Dr Sunday Effiong and Dr C. O. Udoka, all of Accounting Department, Professor Molinta Enendu, Department of Theatre and Media Studies and Dr E.S.Akpan of Banking and Finance

“Others include Dr A.I. Afangideh and Dr Francis Okpiliya of the Department of Geography and Environment Science and Dr K.B.C Ashipu of the Department of English and Literary Studies.

“Professors Udoayang and Enendu, Dr Okpiliya, Dr Afangideh and Dr Ashipu were demoted to the rank of Senior Lecturer, others were stepped down to Lecturer I,’’ the statement added.

The university’s Public Relations Officer, Effiong Eyo, said the demoted officers are “to refund all monies earned from their unmerited promotion and barred from promotion for the next six years.