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Dr. Philip John Kanu, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU), has been placed on immediate interim suspension following a high-level probe into alleged staff recruitment irregularities at the institution.
According to an official letter dated April 8, 2026, from the Office of the Chancellor and stamped by the Office of the President at State House, the decision was triggered by a sub-committee report detailing serious findings regarding the university’s hiring practices.
Exercising powers under Section 15(1)(a) of the Universities Act of 2021, the University Court—in consultation with the Minister of Technical and Higher Education—determined the suspension was necessary “in the best interest of the University” pending the conclusion of all administrative and disciplinary proceedings.
During the suspension, Dr. Kanu is mandated to hand over all official duties, responsibilities, and university property to Dr. Mohamed Ali Jalloh. He has also been formally warned against undertaking any official functions or attempting to contact staff or influence the ongoing proceedings.
The suspension formally enacts recommendations made last month when a special investigation committee asked Dr. Kanu to step aside. In March 2026, investigators uncovered widespread manipulation of interview scores tied to MMTU’s 2025 staff recruitment drive.
The committee found that several candidates who had scored above the required 60% threshold were subsequently downgraded, with the words “Not Recommended” improperly added to their files. At least eleven applicants were affected by the alterations. Interview panel members testified that their submitted scores had been changed without their knowledge.
While Dr. Kanu testified in March that he accepted ultimate accountability as Vice-Chancellor, he denied knowing who altered the scores. However, the investigating committee heavily criticized his leadership style, describing it as autocratic and warning that it had fostered a “toxic” environment where loyalty superseded merit
Dr. Kanu, the first alumnus to become Principal and Vice-Chancellor of MMTU, is no stranger to public scrutiny. His tenure has been marked by significant institutional development—including transitioning the college to a Technical University—but also by recurring administrative friction.
In late 2022, he was indefinitely suspended following the circulation of an audio clip containing alleged hate speech and tribalism. However, a 32-man investigation committee ultimately cleared him of the allegations, leading to his reinstatement and a formal apology from the Minister of Technical and Higher Education.
More recently, in late 2024, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigated Dr. Kanu over the delayed delivery of termination letters and the unlawful deduction of salaries from lecturers. While the ACC found no criminal wrongdoing, they emphasized the urgent need for administrative reforms at MMTU, referring separate allegations of unlawful detention to the Sierra Leone Police for review.
