A member of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian University (SSANU) Federal University of Technology, Akure, (FUTA), Abiodun Adetola Atunbi, was feared dead, after being hit by the convoy of the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Adebiyi Daramola on Monday morning.

According to an eye witness, the vice chancellor, who was in company of his security aides visited the Senate building of the institution, where the protesting workers of the institution had been converging for the past few weeks, demanding the sack of the university head.

He explained that Daramola stopped his convoy to check some of the vehicles obstructing the road and started writing the registration numbers of some of the cars parked by the striking workers at the Senate building while the workers moved towards him to question him over the development.

He, however, said Daramola and his entourage took to their heels and sped off from the scene while his security Hilux vehicle allegedly hit Atunbi who was at the walkway in the process of maneuvering the vehicle.

Atunbi, a staff of the institution library, was immediately rushed to the State Specialist Hospital in Akure where he was said to be coma until the time of writing the report.

The incident however, ignited protest from the member of the university staff, as many individuals joined them to protest against the incident.
The protesters who were said to be members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) had been demanding the sack of Daramola, who had was allegedly involved in financial impropriety.

But Daramola who had since September appeared before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following a petition which indicted him but the workers were dissatisfied with the development.

The staff of the institution had protested on several occasions against the continuous services of the Vice Chancellor of the uniiversity, claiming that his services should be suspended pending the conclusion of investigations by the anti graft agency.

The protesters who usually converged on the entrance to the Vice Chancellor’s office as early as 7.00am prevented the Vice Chancellor and his aides from entering the office.

Confirming the incident, the chairman of the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) in FUTA, Adebayo Aladerotohun, described the incident as unfortunate and another excursiveness of Daramola on the staff of the institution

Reacting, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the university, Mr Adegbenro Adebanjo, said he was not aware of the development, saying he was out of the university campus as at the time he was called for reaction.

Also, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the state Police command, Mr Femi Joseph, confirming the development, said the matter was a vehicular accident, adding that the police are still investigating the matter.



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