The American University of Nigeria, Yola, has suspended the Dean of its School of Law, Bello Magaji, following a report that his conviction by a military court for sodomy was upheld by the Supreme Court, although he allegedly never served the prison sentence.
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The university announced the suspension in a statement issued on Monday by its Registrar, Daniel Okereke.
According to AUN, Magaji, an associate professor, has also been placed on indefinite leave without pay pending the outcome of an administrative review by a panel set up by the university management.
The institution said the action followed the discovery of Magaji’s alleged “non-disclosure of prior military service and misrepresentation of records” in his employee records at the time he was employed.
“These actions constitute a fundamental breach of trust and are considered matters of serious concern by the University,” the statement said.
AUN added that it remains committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency and accountability in all its operations.
The suspension came after a PREMIUM TIMES investigation reported that Magaji, a former military police officer in the Nigerian Army, was convicted by a General Court Martial in 1997 for sodomy and sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment, later reduced to five years.
According to court documents cited in the report, the military court found him guilty of having carnal knowledge of four boys, including a 17-year-old. The report said two victims and one witness testified during the trial that Magaji allegedly intoxicated them with alcohol before the acts occurred sometime in 1996.
Magaji has, however, maintained his innocence, claiming he was framed because of some cases he prosecuted while serving as a military police officer.
He challenged the conviction through the legal system, from the General Court Martial to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. He also approached the National Human Rights Commission and the Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission, popularly known as the Oputa Panel.
In 2008, the Supreme Court upheld the conviction handed down by the military court. However, the report stated that Magaji did not serve the sentence.
Five years later, in 2013, former President Goodluck Jonathan granted him a presidential pardon.
The report also alleged that the Nigerian Army later altered Magaji’s official records by replacing his dismissal from service with voluntary retirement.
Following his exit from the military, Magaji built a career in academia and held senior positions in Nigerian universities, including serving as dean of law faculties.
AUN said its administrative review would determine the next steps regarding his employment with the institution.
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