By Ejike Uzoma, Umuahia
Barely weeks after sacking about 460 workers under controversial circumstances, the Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University Agriculture, Umudike, Professor Francis Otunta has caught the bug  for medical vacation abroad.

 The Professor of Mathematics whose tenure has been dogged by one controversy or the other is being funded by the University to the tune of nearly N16 million for the trip.

 Sources close to the school said Otunta had been on admission at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC,  Umuahia where he had been undergoing treatment for undisclosed ailment.

 However, both the Vice-Chancellor's health challenge and his trip abroad is being discussed in hush-hush tones in the university community.

 Theledgerng.com spoke to the Public Relations Officer of the University, Mrs Ada Odefa who denied knowledge of the trip.

 Mrs Odefa equally denied that Otunta was once  admitted at FMC, Umuahia, adding that even if he was, it is his private affair, not for public consumption

 Reacting whether the VC was being sponsored by the University for the Medical vacation, Odefa replied: ''I dont know about any such trip. The Prof can afford to take medical vacation, his salary and allowances are enough to pay for it, and he is not obliged to tell anyone about it''. She however referred the report to the VC if her reaction were not satisfactory.

 Meanwhile, the sacked workers, who claim  that they were victims of the cold war between Otunta and his predecessor are contending that the process leading to their sack was improper and devoid of due process

 Some allege that they were being sacrificed to make way for people recently employed by Otunta.

 It will be recalled that barely one year into his tenure at MOUAU, Otunta's former student and now a factional President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Chinomso Obasi accused him of gross incompetence, maladministration and overwhelming allegations of corrupt practices while he was Rector, Akanu Ibiam Polytechnic, Afikpo. 

 Otunta while dismissing the allegations promised to return fire for fire, averring that Obasi is the one who is corrupt and ought to be in jail.