More than one year after they were sacked by the management of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Kwara State, the National Industrial Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State capital, this morning, reinstated the Chairman and Secretary of the institution’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Kayode Afolayan and Dr. Solomon Oyelekan.
This was as the court, presided over by Justice O.O Adebowale, also awarded cost of N500,000 against the university, and ordered that the salaries and allowances of the two unionists be paid from the time of their suspension till date.
The court also awarded 20 per cent interest on the amount payable to them from today until it is fulfilled by the university.
The duo were dismissed by the university for blowing whistle on the alleged corrupt activities of the institution’s immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali involving the alleged subversion of due process in the employment and promotion of Ambali’s wife among other atrocities.
Speaking with New Telegraph, Dr. Afolayan described the ruling as a victory for the union, and a strong message to what he described as the oppressive administration of the institution.
Meanwhile, when New Telegraph called the university’s spokesman, Mr. Kunle Akogun, he said he was yet to confirm the development from the institution’s legal department, and that as soon as that is done, he would make the position of the university known.
