LASU speaks on Okebukola’s age falsification scandal | Nairalaw

The management of the Lagos State University, on Monday, put out
a curious defence of its professor of Science Education, Peter
Okebukola, who has presented multiple birth certificates during his
profession.

The university was reacting to a PREMIUM TIMES publication which
revealed that the professor has three different birth dates –
February 17, 1949; February 17, 1948; and February 17, 1951- in the
record of the university, which he has used to stay in service
beyond his mandatory retirement date.

Read the University’s statement in full
below:
Attention of the Lagos State University Management has been
drawn to a publication released by Premium Times on Saturday 6th
April, 2019 with respect to a former Executive Secretary of the
National Universities Commission (NUC) and an academic member of
staff of the University, Distinguished Professor Peter Okebukola.
The publication bothers around multiple dates of births and
retirement status of the renowned Professor.

The Lagos State University Management is without doubt one
that abides strictly with the rule of law, statutes and conditions
of service guiding operations of the University. In order to clear
the ambiguity in the publication referred to above, the University
Management is hereby informing the general public that
Distinguished Professor Peter Okebunkola is a bonafide academic
member of staff of the University.

Professor Peter Okebukola joined the service of Lagos State
University transferring his service from the then Oyo State College
of Education, Ilesa and the date of birth on his Record of Service
forwarded to the University by his former employer is 17th
February, 1951. The University is bound to stand by that date
because the Record of Service is the officially recognized record
of his past service.

The affirmation of the Date of Birth of Professor Okebukola
in the Record of Service forwarded to the University by the Oyo
State College of Education, Ilesa confirmed the assertion by
Professor Okebukola that he was born on 17th February,
1951.

Based on the foregoing and in compliance with the law and
subsisting Conditions of Service guiding senior members of staff of
the University as at 2015, Professor Peter Okebukola was due for
retirement on the 17th February, 2016, being the date he attained
the age of 65years. However, the Lagos State Government on 5th
January, 2016 promulgated a new law extending the retirement age of
Professors to 70 years while other academic members of staff who
are not of Professorial cadre and Non-Teaching members of staff had
their retirement age reviewed upwards to 65years. (Section 42:1
a,b&c LASU Amended LAW, 2016).

It is instructive to note that aside Professor Peter
Okebukola, five (5) academic and twenty (20) non-teaching members
of staff including those on Terminal Leave also benefitted from the
provisions of this law.

Also, we state unequivocally that the Vice-Chancellor has no
power to confer on any individual the rank of Distinguished
Professor. It was the University Senate in the exercise of its
powers as provided in Section 9:2(f) LASU LAW 2004 (As Amended)
that recommended to the Governing Council, the conferment of the
rank unto Professor Peter Okebukola. The Governing Council also
duly approved same.

Finally, the University Management is using this medium to
reaffirm to the general public that it is resolute in continuing to
deliver on its core mandates of teaching, research and community
service.

Mr. Ademola ADEKOYA
Coordinator
Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations
Lagos State University