President Muhammadu Buhari has reinstated Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos and sacked the Dr. Wale Babalakin-led Governing Council of the university.
Ogundipe was said to have been removed without following due process.
The announcement was made on Wednesday in Abuja by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, in a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Relations, Mr Ben Goong.
The decisions, he said, followed Buhari’s acceptance of the recommendations of the Special Visitation Panel set up to probe the crisis that rocked the institution.
The statement reads: “President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Visitor to the University of Lagos has approved the Report of the Special Visitation Panel to the University of Lagos.
“The highlights of the findings and recommendations approved by Mr. President are as follows:
“i) The removal of Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe as the Vice Chancellor did not follow due process.
“ii) 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.
“iii) 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 thorough investigation and necessary recommendations.
“iv) 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.
“v) The Governing Council should be dissolved.
“Mr. President after careful review of the report has approved all the recommendations of the Panel.
“Accordingly: i) Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe is hereby reinstated as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos.
“ii) The Governing Council of the University of Lagos Chaired by Dr. B. O. Babalakin is hereby dissolved.
“Mr. President hopes these steps will bring peace, stability, focus and direction to the University.”
It would be recalled that Ogundipe was sacked by the Wale Babalakin-led governing council over alleged financial malpractices.
However, following protest over the manner he was removed, the president set up a special visitation panel to probe the removal of the vice chancellor with the aim of ensuring justice and peace in the institution.
