Two LASU Lecturers Sacked Over Sexual, Finacial Misconduct
By Felix Kuyinu
The management of Lagos State University, LASU, has sacked two of its senior lecturers over sexual misconduct and intolerable finacial behaviour.
The dismissal which was confirmed during the institution’s Governing Council’s 143rd Statutory meeting held on Friday was ruled following a petition from a member of a group, Take It Back Movement, Taofeek Adekunle, who relayed that the lecturers were involved in sexual harassment of students alongside cases of financial misdeeds.
Adekunle mentioned that the lecturers: Dean of the Epe campus of the Department of Agricultural Science, Olatunji Abanikanda, and Khadeejat Ibraheem, the Coordinator, Department of Animal Sciences, School of Agriculture, Epe Campus, put up acts which he described as an antithesis to the promises made by the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello.
After a six-week investigation on the matter by the school authorities, a statement which was signed by the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Emmanuel Fanu, and released on Thursday, found the two lecturers culpable of inhumane treatment of students, sexual harassment, and financial impropriety.
Fanu said that Abanikanda was found guilty of subjecting students to degrading and inhumane treatment on the department’s farm where they do their practical course work.
He said, “Dean, School of Agriculture, Epe Campus, Prof. Olatunji Tajudeen Fasasi Abanikannada, was dismissed over multiple allegations, including: Subjecting 400 Level students of the School of Agriculture to inhumane treatment by keeping them on the farm from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. without break, food, and water even during torrential rainfall that lasted between 4:45 p.m. to after 6:00 p.m., an action prejudicial to the security of the University.
“Sexual harassment of female students of the same school. Subjecting staff members and students to emotional and physical trauma using threats, curses, derogatory utterances, and profane expletives on them, an act unbecoming of a public officer of the University. Unauthorised collection of money from staff and students of the School of Agriculture, contrary to university regulations.”
In the other case, Kareem-Ibraheem, was dismissed for alleged dereliction of duty by failing to adhere to the university’s approved guidelines, procedures and curriculum.
The lecturer was also said to to have failed to remit the sum of over N10 million naira as proceeds from the sale of farm produce which was kept in her personal bank account.
Fanu added that the offences contravened the provisions of the LASU’s Conditions of Service, 2017, as amended.
The University Management reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the integrity of academic and administrative standards.
