Sex-for-marks: Prof. deliberately failed Monica – Lawyer

Miss Monica Osagie, the victim in the sex-for-marks
scandal at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has told an
investigative panel that the disgraced Professor Richard Akindele
deliberately failed her because she refused his sexual
demand.

She said she did not score 33 per cent as the lecturer claimed,
but was failed so that she could bow to his sexual demand.
Monica said this today when she appeared before the panel, her
lawyer Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi told newsmen.

Our reporter racalls that Osagie had appeared before the
committee set up by the institution’s authorities in company of her
counsel.
Osagie, a student in the Masters of Business programme, released a
recorded telephone conversation, which went viral, in which the
lecturer identified as Akindele, demanded five rounds of sex to
enhance her marks.

The committee, which held its session at the Pro -Chancellor’s
Lodge on the campus, allowed only Osagie and her counsel into the
venue.
Journalists, students and some members of the National Human Rights
Commission who came to witness the sitting were not allowed into
the venue by security personnel of the institution who blocked the
entrance.

Akiyode-Afolabi, who spoke with newsmen after the closed door
session which lasted more than seven hours, said Osagie told the
panel that she passed the course but was later failed by the don
because of her refusal to sleep with him.
She said that Osagie narrated in details what transpired between
her and the don, adding that lawyers present at the meeting were
not allowed to make any contribution.

Akiyode-Afolabi , who is the Executive Director for Women
Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, Abuja, said that
Osagie also informed the panel that she recorded the conversation
between her and the professor as an evidence.
She said Osagie also informed the panel that she reported the
sexual harassment by the don to some lecturers in the university,
adding that no action was taken by them.

Akiyode-Afolabi said some lawyers who represented the lecturers
to whom Osagie claimed she reported the case, also appeared before
the panel.

She said that Osagie also told the panel that she did not score
33 per cent as alleged but was failed so that she could bow to the
sexual demands of the don.

Akiyode-Afolabi said she was optimistic that the outcome of the
investigative panel would serve as a lesson to other lecturers who
also engage in such act.

She, however, urged the panel to ensure that justice prevailed
on the issue so as to maintain the integrity of the
institution.

Akiyode-Afolabi, who did not allow Osagie to talk to newsmen,
said her client would always be available to give evidence whenever
she was called upon.

Members of the panel did not also speak with newsmen after the
meeting.

Recall that a recorded audio conversation of the don demanding
for sex to increase the marks of the female postgraduate student
had gone viral.
The audio recording generated reactions from a cross-section of the
public, making the university authorities to set up an
investigative panel.

The vice chancellor, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede on Friday
confirmed the suspension of Akindele.

Ogunbodede, in a statement, said he had received and considered
the interim report of the committee set up to investigate the
allegation of sexual harassment revealed in the audio
recording.

The vice chancellor said that though the investigative committee
invited both Akindele and Osagie, only the don had appeared before
the committee

Miss Monica Osagie, the victim in the sex-for-marks
scandal at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has told an
investigative panel that the disgraced Professor Richard Akindele
deliberately failed her because she refused his sexual
demand.

She said she did not score 33 per cent as the lecturer claimed,
but was failed so that she could bow to his sexual demand.
Monica said this today when she appeared before the panel, her
lawyer Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi told newsmen.

Our reporter racalls that Osagie had appeared before the
committee set up by the institution’s authorities in company of her
counsel.
Osagie, a student in the Masters of Business programme, released a
recorded telephone conversation, which went viral, in which the
lecturer identified as Akindele, demanded five rounds of sex to
enhance her marks.

The committee, which held its session at the Pro -Chancellor’s
Lodge on the campus, allowed only Osagie and her counsel into the
venue.
Journalists, students and some members of the National Human Rights
Commission who came to witness the sitting were not allowed into
the venue by security personnel of the institution who blocked the
entrance.

Akiyode-Afolabi, who spoke with newsmen after the closed door
session which lasted more than seven hours, said Osagie told the
panel that she passed the course but was later failed by the don
because of her refusal to sleep with him.
She said that Osagie narrated in details what transpired between
her and the don, adding that lawyers present at the meeting were
not allowed to make any contribution.

Akiyode-Afolabi , who is the Executive Director for Women
Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, Abuja, said that
Osagie also informed the panel that she recorded the conversation
between her and the professor as an evidence.
She said Osagie also informed the panel that she reported the
sexual harassment by the don to some lecturers in the university,
adding that no action was taken by them.

Akiyode-Afolabi said some lawyers who represented the lecturers
to whom Osagie claimed she reported the case, also appeared before
the panel.

She said that Osagie also told the panel that she did not score
33 per cent as alleged but was failed so that she could bow to the
sexual demands of the don.

Akiyode-Afolabi said she was optimistic that the outcome of the
investigative panel would serve as a lesson to other lecturers who
also engage in such act.

She, however, urged the panel to ensure that justice prevailed
on the issue so as to maintain the integrity of the
institution.

Akiyode-Afolabi, who did not allow Osagie to talk to newsmen,
said her client would always be available to give evidence whenever
she was called upon.

Members of the panel did not also speak with newsmen after the
meeting.

Recall that a recorded audio conversation of the don demanding
for sex to increase the marks of the female postgraduate student
had gone viral.
The audio recording generated reactions from a cross-section of the
public, making the university authorities to set up an
investigative panel.

The vice chancellor, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede on Friday
confirmed the suspension of Akindele.

Ogunbodede, in a statement, said he had received and considered
the interim report of the committee set up to investigate the
allegation of sexual harassment revealed in the audio
recording.

The vice chancellor said that though the investigative committee
invited both Akindele and Osagie, only the don had appeared before
the committee