Sxxual Harassment: : LASU Sacks Three Lecturers

The affected lecturers are Dr. Odubunmi Ayoola Sunkanmi, an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics; Dr. Ogunwande Isiaka Ajani, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry, and Dr. Gbeleyi Emmanuel Orilade, a Lecturer II in the Department of Anatomy at the university’s College of Medicine in Ikeja. Recall on Tuesday, September 18, on the planned decision of the university’s Governing Council to sack the affected lecturers in the first week of October. True to the report, the Council wielded the big stick on Thursday, October 4. In a statement issued and signed by the Coordinator of the university’s Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations (CIPPR), Mr. Ademola Adekoya, the university noted that the decision was taken at the Council’s 119th statutory meeting based on the recommendations of its Joint Council/Senate (Academic) Disciplinary Committee. The statement reads in part; “The current Lagos State University Authority by this development has further demonstrated its zero-tolerance for sexual harassment and general indiscipline and the drive to continually promote the welfare of both deserving staff and students of the institution.” One of the sacked lecturers, Odubunmi had been arrested by the institution’s security operatives while allegedly sexually harassing a female student of the Economics Department in his office on a Saturday. The arrest took place exactly three days to Odubunmi’s promotion interview for full professorship. Our reporter learnt that Odubunmi had allegedly invited his victim to his office on the said Saturday to rewrite a failed examination paper, and had in the process, after locking the door, removed his shirt and started romancing the unnamed student. Further investigations by our reporter had revealed that it was unknown to the lecturer that the student had been bugged with secret cameras and other gadgets, and was being monitored by officers of the university and an unnamed non-governmental organisation, who had monitored everything in another office close to Odubunmi’s office. According a source, who craved anonymity, the student, who was disturbed by the persistent pressure from the lecturer, had approached a Lagos-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) to seek intervention. The NGO was said to have notified the university management, which in turn promised to ‘play along’ so as to catching the lecturer red handed. The source further added: “Odubunmi invited the student to his office on the said Saturday to rewrite the course he said the student failed unknown to him that the girl had informed the authorities and was already equipped with recording gadgets. So, as soon as the girl entered, he was handed the answer booklet and the question papers. “As soon as the girl was settling down to write, Odubunmi locked the door safely and began to undress. He began by caressing the student but as soon as he was moving near ‘dangerous zones,’ the girl showed resistance and while attempting to adjust her glasses for proper coverage, the lecturer suspected and shouted loudly accusing the girl of attempting to rope him. “He immediately seized the eyeglasses and broke it into pieces in the process.” The allegation against the two other lecturers similar. Meanwhile, the university’s Council at the meeting also approved the promotion of 249 academic and non-academic staffers into various positions, while 29 others have benefited from an internal recruitment exercise.]]>