BIUST Professor reported for plagiarism
Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) lecturer, Professor Abraham Atta Ogwu has been reported to the Vice Chancellor on allegations of Plagiarism - Dishonest/Concealment and disrepute, intimidation, and possible misleading of the BIUST management.
The report which has been made by a colleague, Prof. Adamu Murtala Zungeru from the Department of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering office has called for proper investigation. This, according to the report is because; it may breach BIUST terms and conditions of service, section 10.2.9, Table 2. The submission report is based on Prof Ogwu's publications as seen on the internet, which is for public consumption.
“Prof. Abraham Atta Ogwu has some of the listed papers suspected to be plagiarized/self-plagiarized. Band structure based predictive criteria for selecting densifying additives during sintering of transition metal based hard metals and iono-covalent ceramics.
“Self-Plagiarised 45 per cent of two Papers (28 per cent and 17 per cent). Papers 21 and 22 'Effect of transition/rare earth metal oxide additives on densification during sintering of Si N '; 'The densification and mechanical properties of a TiC and TiB2 hardmetal sintered with a reactive alloy binder', reads the report.
According to Prof Zungeru, his colleague plagiarized (36 per cent) of paper 23 “Electronic contribution to superplasticity in ceramics”.
He said all the papers mentioned prove that when removed from his publications, he might not be qualified for a FULL Professor in BIUST. Because as it stands, about 48 of his papers have issues. He added that it can be seen that there is duplication between papers 9 and 34, papers 13 and 40, papers 15 and 43, and papers 19 and 50, and evidence of plagiarism in paper 6.
“This can be termed Dishonesty/Concealment and Disrepute of BIUST contrary to BIUST terms and conditions of service, section 10.2.9, Table 2. I also wish to bring to your attention possible intimidation by Prof. Ogwu on me.
“On the 9th of February 2022, at around 4.30pm to past 5pm, after office working hours, I was called for a meeting in his office, titled 'peace-making meeting.' However, this was not the case, rather he was intimidating me about his achievement and that he can do as the DVCRD&I, and if I stopped the petitions and all that on Olakanmi and others who were doing wrong things, he will go to HR to stop all cases.”
Prof Zungeru says he has been involved with the patenting process for close to 30 years in Europe as his work has been supported inter-alia by world leading companies that include Sandvik Coromant Sweden, Seagate Technology Ireland, Thales Optronics, Scottish Enterprise Ltd inter-alia, and involved serious patents, licenses and heavy income and revenue.
“I also wish to bring to your attention that Prof. Ogwu may also have committed insubordination in one of your instructions and a letter dated 20th February 2023 on the instruction for payment of the patent, which he ignored.
“It should be noted that Prof. Ogwu is our DVCRD&I, and I believe if this is left unchecked, BIUST's aim of becoming a leader in research will be eroded. It is also evidence that Prof. Ogwu only values those that go with his way of doing things and do not encourage innovation”.