S*x-for-admission scandal: UNILAG sets up panel to try Igbenehu, Oladip

* ASUU asks members, public to report cases of ethical,
professional misdemeanour

Authorities of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Wednesday set
up a panel headed by Prof Ayodele V. Atsenuwa, a Professor of
Public Law, Faculty of Law, who is also the incumbent Dean of the
Faculty to try two senior lecturers involved in the
sex-for-admission scandal.

A statement signed and dated Wednesday, October 9 by the
Principal Assistant Registrar (Communication Unit), Mrs. Taiwo
Oloyede, said the panel would probe the allegations of sexual
harassment levelled against Dr. Boniface Igbeneghu of the
Department of European Languages and Integrated Studies, Faculty of
Arts and Dr. Samuel Oladipo of the Department of Economics, Faculty
of Social Sciences as well as other related cases.

The university management on Monday and Tuesday suspended and
barred Dr Igbenehu and Dr Oladipo over alleged sex-for-admission
video recording by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
report in their offices.

The BBC video which is still trending also captured some
lecturers in Ghana university demanding sex from the undercover BBC
reporter in exchange for admission.

UNILAG in a statement said: ”As previously announced in the
university’s press release dated Monday, October 7, 2019, Dr.
Samuel Oladipo who was featured in the full version of the BBC
broadcast, has been suspended from work with immediate effect and
barred from the university academic areas until the conclusion of
the panel’s assignment.

”The university wishes to inform the public that the panel set
up to investigate another allegation of sexual harassment involving
a professor in the university in June 2018 still subsists and
awaits further information that will aid in concluding the
investigation.

”Students and members of staff who have relevant information are
encouraged to come forward. Their protection is assured.”

The university management reassured students, staff, alumni,
parents, and guardians that the scandal will be tackled with every
sense of responsibility, and the seriousness it deserves, noting
that the process will be transparent and appropriate sanctions will
be meted out to anyone found culpable.

Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)
UNILAG branch condemned in its strongest term all forms of
unethical practices including sexual harassment amongst the
members.

ASUU UNILAG bulletin dated October 8 and signed by Dr. Dele
Ashiru said: ”Our union demands that all allegations contained in
the viral video be thoroughly investigated by the university
administration and ensure that justice is done to all
concerned.

”Our union wishes to appeal to its members to refrain from
actions that are capable of putting the academia and indeed the
Nigerian University System into disrepute.”

The union recalled that in 2018, the branch took the initiative
to mount a campaign through leaflets and posters against sexual
harassment and other unethical practices within the university.

It urged members and the public to take advantage of the union’s
mechanism to report all cases of ethical and professional
misdemeanour by any member for prompt and immediate action.