The Rainbow
ASUU, senators condemn purported action
Confusion persists ove the removal of the Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, with claims and counter-claim over the removal process.
While Ogundipe insists that his purported fell short of the legal requirement based on the governing laws of the University, the Registrar of the institution, Oladejo Azeez, came out with a statement to counter Ogundipe’s claims.
Azeez in a statement on Wednesday said, “My attention has been drawn to a document circulating under the hand and signature of the former Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, FAS.
“The letter purports to deny his removal by the Governing Council of University at its Emergency Meeting of Wednesday, August 12, 2020.”
Ogundipe is insisting that he remains in office despite his sacking by the Governing Council earlier on Wednesday.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I am in my capacity as Registrar and Secretary to Council the only custodian of the minutes of Council and the authorizing officer on behalf of Council to issue official statements pertaining to all Council Affairs.
“Members of the public are hereby advised to totally disregard the statement attributed to the said former Vice Chancellor,” the Registrar further said.
” The position remains that he was lawfully removed by the Governing Council at a meeting fully attended by all Council members.”
The also in the statement announced the appointment of Professor Theophilus Soyombo as successor to Ogundipe.
He said, “I also wish to use the opportunity to inform members of the public that Council at the said meeting duly appointed Professor Theophilus Omololu Soyombo of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos as Vice Chancellor of the University in an Acting Capacity.
The VC was removed in Abuja at the emergency meeting of the Governing Council of the university presided over by the institution’s Pro-Chancellor, Dr Bolanle Babalakin SAN.
At the meeting which held at the National Universities Commission, it was learnt that the pro chancellor called for a vote for the removal of the VC.
According to a Senate Representative in Council, who was also present at the meeting, Bola Oboh, four persons voted against the removal of the vice chancellors. These are Prof Oboh, Prof Odukoya. Prof Leshi and John Momoh. However, while six persons, excluding the pro chancellor voted for the removal.
However, Ogundipe in a counter statement, titled, “Re: Notice to the General Public on the Removal of the Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos by Oladejo Azeez, Esq,” said, “The attention of the University of Lagos (Unilag) management has been drawn to the ‘Notice to the General Public on the Removal of the Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos’; dated August 12, 2020 and signed by Oladejo Azeez, Esq, Registrar and Secretary to Council, stating that the current Vice Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, FAS has been removed from office with immediate effect.
“This is untrue and a figment of his imagination. Therefore, stakeholders of Unilag and the general public are advised to disregard this mischievous disinformation about the sitting Vice Chancellor of Unilag, contained in that notice. Professor Ogundipe still remains Unilag’s Vice Chancellor.”
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, University of Lagos branch, has condemned the purported removal of Ogundipe.
The Chairman of the union, Dele Ashiru, who accused the Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr Wale Babalakin, of masterminding the Council’s action,said the move was aimed at destabilising the institution.
“His removal is illegal and uncalled for. Our union condemns in the strongest term the purported removal. It is the machination of the pro-chancellor to destabilise this university,” he declared.
“We reaffirm our confidence in the leadership of Professor Toyin Ogundipe as Vice-Chancellor.
At least two representatives of the Nigerian Senate in the Governing Council of the The University also kicked against the removal of the Vice-Chancellor.
The Senators, Bola Oboh and Olukemi Odukoya, in separate statements, on Wednesday, described the process leading to the Council’s action as shameful and unacceptable.
They accused the Pro-Chancellor of the University, Dr. Wale Babalakin, of turning deaf ears to advice on the tenable way of handling the crisis that led to the VC’s removal, saying he disregarded the guidelines already laid down for the removal of office holders.
Oboh said, “Dear Senate members, the University of Lagos’ regulation has been stepped on and ridiculed. Babawale Babalakin, the ProChancellor waited for the tenure of Prof. Chukwu and Prof. Familoni to end, to call an Emergency Council meeting.
“Based on the Dagari report, without allowing the VC defend himself, the ProChancellor called for a vote for the removal of the VC. I (Prof. Oboh), Prof. Odukoya, Prof. Leshi and John Momoh voted against the removal of the VC.
“Six persons (excluding Babalakin) voted for (in support). Babalakin then went ahead to announce the removal of the VC. Dear Senate members, the procedure for removal of persons in office is clear and this was pointed out to Babalakin several times but he turned deaf ears.
“He said he would announce the Ag. Vice Chancellor at 5pm. I have excused myself that I need to report to Senate members the shameful act currently ongoing. Please let us arise to fight this.”
Prof. Olukemi Odukoya said, “It is with great regret that I announce to you that the Pro-Chancellor has had his way in actualising his machinery to remove the Vice Chancellor.
“At today’s 12th August 2020, Emergency Meeting of Council in Abuja, Dr. Babalakin asked the VC and DVC (DS) to leave the meeting and by vote of 6 to 4, announced that the Vice Chancellor had been removed.
“Members, arise, this is unacceptable. We must defend the Management of the University.”
– The Rainbow
