The Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Delta State, has asked its Pro-Chancellor, Anthony Kila, to step aside from his responsibilities pending an investigation into questions surrounding his professorial status.

The decision was announced in a statement released on Tuesday, three days after an investigation was published questioning the basis of Kila’s professorial title.

According to PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday, the university said the decision was in line with its commitment to “academic integrity, transparency, and the highest standards of institutional governance”.

“Anthony Kila has been requested to step aside from his responsibilities as Pro-Chancellor while the issues raised are being addressed, investigated, and findings concluded,” the university said.

It added that the decision was necessary to protect the integrity of its governance process and maintain the confidence of its students, staff, parents, regulators and the public.

The university did not disclose how long the investigation would take.

PREMIUM TIMES reported on October 3 that its investigation found no evidence that a recognised academic institution had awarded Kila the rank of professor.

The investigation also examined his use of the designation “Jean Monnet Professor of Strategy and Development” and found no evidence supporting the claim.

Kila had told the online platform that the European Centre for Advanced and Professional Studies, which he said was based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, awarded him the professorship in 2016.

However, checks by the online newspaper found no evidence that the institution existed, following searches of the UK Companies House, Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission and other publicly available sources.

The newspaper also reported that the European Education and Culture Executive Agency, which administers the European Union’s Jean Monnet programme, did not list Kila as a Jean Monnet project coordinator.

Kila subsequently rejected the description of him as a “fake professor”, insisting that he remained a professor and stood by the credentials on which his title was based.

In a response reported by PUNCH Online on Monday, Kila said he was prepared to make documents concerning his professorial status available.

The university’s decision followed an earlier report on Tuesday that Kila’s name, profile and photographs had been removed from the institution’s website.

His profile had previously appeared alongside those of the university’s proprietress, Cecilia Ibru, and its Vice-Chancellor, Ibiyinka Fuwape.