By Valentine Amanze, Online Editor
The President Muhammadu Buhari-led Nigerian government has said that it reinstated the sacked Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, because he was innocent of all allegations against him.
The Federal Ministry of Education’s Director Press and Public Relations, Ben-Bem Goong, disclosed this Wednesday in a
statement titled, “Re: Report Of The Special Visitation Panel To University Of Lagos.”
It explained that the decision to reinstate Ogundipe was taken by President Muhammadu Buhari who approved the report of the Special Visitation Panel set up by the Federal Government to investigate the management crisis rocking the institution.
The report approved by President Buhari stated that the removal of Ogundipe did not follow due process.
It added: “The Vice-Chancellor was not granted an opportunity to defend himself on the allegations upon which his removal was based. He should accordingly be re-instated.
“All allegations made against the Vice-Chancellor and the management of the university before and after the Constitution of the Special Visitation Panel should be referred to regular Visitation Panel for a thorough investigation and necessary recommendations.
“The process adopted by the Council in the appointment of Professor Omololu Soyombo as Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university was inconsistent with the provisions of the Law relating to the appointment of an Acting Vice-Chancellor.
“The Governing Council should be dissolved.”
The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu , had in September received the report of the visitation panel on behalf of the Federal Government.
He assured that the recommendations of the panel would be thoroughly scrutinised with the aim of full implementation.
Alleged Financial Misconduct
On August 12, 2020, the University of Lagos Governing Council had sacked Ogundipe as Vice-Chancellor over alleged financial misappropriation and misconduct, a development he (Ogundipe) said did not follow due process.
The university’s Senate, alumni, and labour unions had thrown their weight behind Ogundipe, insisting that his sack did not follow due process.
Also, the school’s Senate elected Professor Folasade Ogunsola as the acting Vice-Chancellor.
The development prompted the setting up of a seven-member Presidential Panel by the Federal Government to determine whether the required steps were taken by the Council in sacking Ogundipe.
They were also expected “to make appropriate recommendations including sanctions for all those found culpable” in the investigation, which is expected to last for two weeks.