By Damola Emmanuel
The crisis rocking the University of Lagos took a dramatic turn, Friday, as the Federal Government wielded the big hammer and ordered the two principal gladiators, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Dr. Olawale Babalakin, and the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe to step aside.
A statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Education spokesman, Mr. Ben Goong, said the action had become necessary in order to allow the Special Visitation Panel set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to do its job.
The order will subsist till the panel finishes its job and outcome determined.
“Government also directs the Senate of the University of Lagos to immediately convene to nominate an acting Vice-Chancellor from amongst its members for confirmation by the Governing Council,” the statement added.
The Wale Babalakin-led Governing Council had, on August 12, sacked Prof Ogundipe as Vice Chancellor for alleged financial misappropriation and gross misconduct.
The embattled VC, however, rejected the Council’s decision, saying the Council never followed due process and extant regulations of the university.
The University’s Senate, alumni association, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and labour unions, issued a surfeit of statements condemning the VC’s sack, saying it never followed due process.
However, Dr. Babalakin countered the insinuation in several media reactions, insisted that the Governing Council complied with the university’s regulations in determining Prof. Ogundipe’s appointment.
Babalakin, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, said as a top lawyer, he would never do anything that would stand the law on its head and defile the temple of justice.
Membership of the Special Visitation Panel include: Professor Tukur Sa’ad (Chairman), Barrister Victor Onuoha, Professor Ikenna Onyido, Professor Ekanem Braide, Professor Adamu K. Usman, Chief Jimoh Bankole and Barrister Grace Ekanem (Secretary).
The seven-member panel is to, in the main, determine whether the required steps were taken by the Council in sacking Prof. Ogundipe.
It is also expected “to make appropriate recommendations including sanctions for all those found culpable” in the investigation.
The panel, which has two weeks to complete its assignment, will be inaugurated by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, on August 26, 2020.
