https://guardian.ng/opinion/rasheed-ojikutu-the-mindset-of-a-hatchet-man-at-unilag/

Rasheed Ojikutu: The mindset of a hatchet man at UNILAG

The article, titled Wale Babalakin: The pitiable angle, written by Rasheed Ojikutu, a professor in the Faculty of Management Sciences, University of Lagos and published in The Guardian newspaper of Thursday, September 24, 2020, gave a window into the mindset of a hatchet man desirous of confusing the public.

That such a piece could come from the pen of a man that professes to have attained the highest academic height of a university lecturer – professorship- paints a very gloomy picture for the next generation of Nigerians that the likes of Ojikutu are being paid to mould in learning and character.

One is however relieved that there are as many university lecturers who are not on the same page with him and as such, the future of this potentially great nation is not totally imperiled.

Although he kicked-started his article by posturing to be a lover of the university where he teaches, he soon exposed himself as a lover and defender of the cesspool of corruption that Dr. Wale Babalakin SAN fought as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council.

Or how else can one interpret the ‘proverbial’ story told by this professor about “a man who caught a man right in his bedroom sleeping with his wife”?

In case you have not read the article in question, permit me to reproduce the relevant portion under reference.
Making allusion to the anti-corruption war waged at the university by Babalakin, Ojikutu wrote:

“His attitude and general mien to university governance remind me of the proverbial man who caught a man right in his bedroom sleeping with his wife. He was so enraged that he held the man firmly by his jugular beckoning to the whole community to observe the shame of a greedy womanizer who has the audacity to probe the privacy of another man’s home. The entire town gathered slapping, kicking, and mocking the intruder with some shouting “Straight to the King’s palace. We must crucify him”. They dragged the offender through the whole town to the Palace where he was sanctioned for infidelity.

“After the crowd dispersed, the King invited the somewhat victorious husband to the inner recess of his palace and said to him “My dear son, I have never seen a man so naïve and gullible like you. A problem you should have resolved within the confines of your home will from tomorrow become a subject of ridicule and shame in town due to your indiscretion. Don’t you know that you have rechristened yourself and your families as you are likely to be seen from today from the perspective of the incident as henceforth, you will be described by people in this town as the husband of the promiscuous woman”. It is indeed most disheartening that Wale Babalakin was unlucky to have found himself in the midst of some advisers in the university who are generally not known for construction.”

It is quite clear that ‘wife’ in the story here is University of Lagos while the “greedy womanizer” is Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the erstwhile Vice- Chancellor of the institution who was removed from office by the Babalakin-led Governing Council.

To Professor Ojikutu, Babalakin and other members of the University of Lagos Governing Council should have looked the other way and not institute investigation into the allegations of sleaze against Professor Ogundipe.
To him also, Babalakin ought not to have prevailed on the Council to take actions against Ogundipe after the Dr. Saminu Dagari panel had found him guilty so that the ‘King’ will not reprimand him.

Simply put, Ojikutu is telling his readers what he would do if he was in Babalakin’s shoes: cover-up the corrupt tendencies of the university’s administration and have his own hefty share of the proceeds of corruption, much to the detriment of probity and accountability and all in a bid to retain the glamorous title of Pro-Chancellor. What a pity!
More pitiable is his attempt to mock the resignation of Babalakin over his disagreement with composition and terms reference of the Visitation Panel put in place by the Federal Government

Our dear professor must certainly belong to the specie of Nigerians, and there are legions of them, who would sell their souls by clinging to public offices at all costs rather than throwing in the towel when there are clear signals that they are no longer being appreciated by the appointing authorities.

Thank God that Babalakin has shown the way for a new Nigeria, as is the case in civilized climes, where people of good conscience readily resign in such circumstances.

If some people say he did that because he has ‘a second address’, so be it. That indeed, is a lesson, and a great one for that matter, for many Nigerian public officials who cannot survive outside of government appointments.

If they have ‘a second address’, they can also write, as Babalakin did, in his letter of resignation sent to the Minister of Education, inter-alia, that “
“ 12. I have served the university system in Nigeria with my heart and intellect. Amongst other offices, I was:
a. Pro-Chancellor, University of Maiduguri (2009 – 2013);
b. Chairman, Council of Pro-Chancellors of all Federal Universities (2009 – 2013);
c. Chairman, Federal Government Implementation Team of the 2009 Agreement (2009 – 2013);
d. Chairman, Federal Government Negotiation Team of the 2009 Agreement (2017 till date);
e. Pro-Chancellor, University of Lagos (2017 till date).

“ 13. These were made possible by a system that provided resources and also ensured proper monitoring of the resources. The educational system in Nigeria requires more funding but most importantly, it requires prudent management of the limited resources. It was my determination to ensure that the limited resources of the University of Lagos were properly utilized that motivated me to lead the Governing Council to take the decisions which the Governing Council took.

“14. In all these positions that I have held, I did not receive any remuneration. Specifically:
a. I did not receive any sitting allowance.
b. I did not receive any tickets or travel allowance.
c. I did not receive or use any official car.
d. In the University of Maiduguri and University of Lagos, I did not allow the institutions to provide me with food or drinks. I paid for every right or privilege that was conferred on me.
e. Even when I travelled to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, I paid for my ticket and my expenses.
f. I did not obtain any contract from the education sector in my relative long sojourn in the sector.
“15. My motivation for my actions is that I had the best education that an intellect could provide in Nigeria and abroad. It is my fervent desire that every Nigerian should have the sort of opportunities I had.”

Lest I forget, Ojikutu is the Chairman of the Distance Learning Institute (DLI) Board of the University where so much money had been siphoned to private pockets, according to the Dagari Panel findings.

Nobody should therefore begrudge him for celebrating the exit of Babalakin from the Governing Council. The Professor can go back to his old ways without any fear of being brought to book.

Mumuni is media adviser to Dr. Wale Babalakin.

https://guardian.ng/opinion/rasheed-ojikutu-the-mindset-of-a-hatchet-man-at-unilag/

Breaking: Ogundipe Allegedly Compiling Staff List for Punishment.

As Indicted Ogundipe, Acting VC, UNILAG Bursar jubilate as Babalakin, Unilag's Pro-Chancellor resigns


News filtering into our Newsroom authoritatively has it that a jubilant party of the trio of the recused Vice Chancellor, Professor Toyin Ogundipe, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Sade Ogunsola and the University Bursar, Lekan Lawal, who were all fingered in the recently uncovered merciless and unprecedented looting of that University of first choice were sighted celebrating the recused Council Chairman's resignation. This confirms our recent reports on the gergantuan efforts being made by the trio to influence both the actual sittings and the final report of the Visitation Panel, which was submitted earlier today to Education Minister, Adamu Adamu who received the report on behalf of the Visitor, President Muhammad Buhari.

Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), who until his resignation letter dated September 15, 2020 but released to the Press shortly after the Panel's reports were submitted this afternoon, said his zeal to rescue the University from acute financial mis-management which was done with the best of intention and in accordance with the appropriate laws establishing the University, by the University Council and which should have been subjected only to court interpretation as opposed to the setting up of a Special Visitation Panel, was aimed at rubishing him and the Council under his leadership by the supervising authorities. This intention according to him is manifestly displayed by his government's directive that he should be recused, the setting up of the Visitation Panel, it's terms of reference, it's hobnobbing with the indicted officers and the manner witnesses were obstructed from appearing before it, et cetera.

Analysts have explained that, just as the Pro-Chancellor has alleged in his resignation letter to the Visitor through the Education Minister, that the appointment of the Panel and it's terms of reference was orchestrated to vindicate Ogundipe and villify the Council under his leadership, the indicted officers and corruption may be having it their way after all.

The old adage, however, has it that truth will always prevail at the very last.

"If you malign the truth, it will be more aligned; if you bury the truth it will certainly resurrect on the third day and if lies have been traveling for twenty years, just in a single day, truth will overtake it", the saying goes.

Further reports reaching us indicate that most staff of the university community who claim their messiah, in the person of Babalakin, the Pro-Chancellor who has just resigned in protest, are mourning his exit as Council Chairman. Their grief, according to reports, got escalated as the recused Vice Chancellor, Professor Toyin Ogundipe is alleged, in consort with the Acting VC, to be compiling a list of staff members perceived to have supported Babalakin, for punitive measures.

It is safe, however, to wait for the Visitor's white paper and actions in the aftermath of the Special Visitation Panel's report.

BREAKING: INDICTED OGUNDIPE, ACTING VC, UNILAG BURSAR JUBILATE AS BABALAKIN, UNILAG'S PRO-PRO-CHANCELLOR RESIGNS

News filtering into our Newsroom authoritatively has it that a jubilant party of the trio of the recused Vice Chancellor, Professor Toyin Ogundipe, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Sade Ogunsola and the University Bursar, Lekan Lawal, who were all fingered in the recently uncovered merciless and unprecedented looting of that University of first choice were sighted celebrating the recused Council Chairman's resignation. This confirms our recent reports on the gergantuan efforts being made by the trio to influence both the actual sittings and the final report of the Visitation Panel, which was submitted earlier today to Education Minister, Adamu Adamu who received the report on behalf of the Visitor, President Muhammad Buhari.

Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), who until his resignation letter dated September 15, 2020 but released to the Press shortly after the Panel's reports were submitted this afternoon, said his zeal to rescue the University from acute financial mismanagement which was done with the best of intention and in accordance with the appropriate laws establishing the University, by the University Council and which should have been subjected only to court interpretation as opposed to the setting up of a Special Visitation Panel, was aimed at rubishing him and the Council under his leadership by the supervising authorities. This intention according to him is manifestly displayed by his government's directive that he should be recused, the setting up of the Visitation Panel, it's terms of reference, it's hobnobbing with the indicted officers and the manner witnesses were obstructed from appearing before it, et cetera.

Analysts have explained that, just as the Pro-Chancellor has alleged in his resignation letter to the Visitor through the Education Minister, that the appointment of the Panel and it's terms of reference was orchestrated to vindicate Ogundipe and villify the Council under his leadership, the indicted officers and corruption may be having it their way after all.

The old adage, however, has it that truth will always prevail at the very last.

"If you malign the truth, it will be more aligned; if you bury the truth it will certainly resurrect on the third day and if lies have been traveling for twenty years, just in a single day, truth will overtake it", the saying goes.

Rumous of Possible Compromise as UNILAG's Visitation submits Report


Whispers and rumous are agog on Campus and among all concerned that the Professor Tukur Sa'ad led Presidential Special Visitation Panel to UNILAG, which is expected to submit its report anytime soon may have been compromised after all, through alleged bribes offered by the indicted members of the highly reffered institution's earstwhile Management.

There are several indications that the indicted and recused Vice Chancellor's journey to Abuja immediately the panel left Lagos on Sunday, September 6, 2020 was allegedly to bribe the panel with a staggering and hardly resistible sum of ₦500,000,000.00 (Five hundred million naira only).

It will be recalled, according to Three Arms News Magazine's impeccable sources which is always reliable, that the University Management is withholding UNILAG's staff's Lagos Factor and Profit Sharing Allowances accruing from profits generated by the University as the sums allocated for that purpose has allegedly been misappropriated by the Management of the University under Professor Toyin Ogundipe's watch.

There is a rumour going round the campus through one Mr. Sanya, a retired sportsman and ally of the recused Vice Chancellor, who is boasting that the sacked VC has been exonerated by the Special Visitation Panel's yet to be submitted report.

One wonders where the said Mr. Sanya got his information from as he claims a 'General in the Army' had told him.

The truth remains, however, that the well documented account of Professor Ogundipe and his Management Team's loot are already lodged with EFCC and in Public Domain.

This Media Outfit will not relent in keeping the public informed as events unfold in the present unsavory saga playing out in that University of first choice.

PROFESSORIAL CORRUPTION IN THE ACADEMIA 2: A LITMUS TEST FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS SPECIAL VISITATION PANEL.

When the leadership of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, in its press release tagged, "SSANU OBSERVATIONS", at the inauguration of the Special Visitation Panel (SVP), frowned at the composition of the SVP, alleging its failure to meet the basic requirement of fairness, by having the panel membership skewed in favor of the academic, not few persons agreed with the position of the Union.

A Visitation Panel, whose members are made up of four academics, and all the four of the professor status, out of a total of seven members, and three of the four have served, at various times, as Vice chancellors. It was a natural consequence to assume that Professors would naturally be inclined to protect one of their own.
Without doubt, there has been a Committee of Vice chancellors in Nigeria. A body who, at the break of the news of the removal of the Vice chancellor of University of Lagos, for corrupt practices, has left nobody in doubt as to its solidarity with one of its own. The body was quick to raise its objection to the removal without touching on the allegation of corruption.

The Senate of University of Lagos shared similar views, proferred by the Committee of vice chancellors, as it was equally silent on the issue of corruption but was busy echoing "due process" in its submission to the SVP. The Senate of the University of Lagos didn't stop at that, but went on to pray for the sack of the Pro chancellor along with the Council. It must be noted the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, is also in cahoot with the Senate, and the Committe of the vice chancellors, on this matter. The three groups are peopled by the academics, and are all unanimous on the silence on the corruption charges.

The strong suspicion on the SVP as a pre arranged set up to save the academics in the eye of the storm, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe.and Prof. Folashade Ogunsola, became stronger when it became clear that the two indicted professors belong to the Nigeria Academy of Science, NAS, a professional body whose president is Prof Ekanem Braide who is also a member of the SVP. It is instructive to note that Profs. Ogundipe and Ogunsola are botanist and microbiologist respectively, while Prof. Braide is a parasitologist, and a former Vice chancellor. Unconfirmed source quoted Prof. Ekanem Braide as referring to the idea of her participating in an exercise that will crucify her Academy fellows as unimaginable. Such report cannot be simply waved aside in the light of the agitations from ASUU, Senate of University of Lagos and the preponderance of academics in the composition of the SVP, and the position of the Committee of Vice chancellors on the matter.

Another down side, of the SVP, was the deliberate isolation and shutting out of several memoranda, by not democratizing the whole process as to allow online submission of memoranda. It was also a minus for the SVP as many groups/persons who submitted memoranda were not invited to speak to their papers. These shortcomings will no doubt impact on the quality of the report.

All of the observations, so highlighted, point to one thing; the high probability that the SVP has been compromised. And if all of these conjectures were to be real, it places a serious burden on the anti corruption stance of the federal government.

If the pressure mounted by the academic interest groups should influence their compatriots in the SVP, then the anti corruption fight, in the federal Universities is as good as lost.

This is a litmus test, no doubt.Q

Press Release

ASUU'S CLAMOUR FOR BABALAKIN'S REMOVAL QUITE LAUGHABLE AND BASELESS
- Concerned Stakeholders

The rumoured clamour by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Unilag's Branch, being nudged on by it's militant pro-Ogundipe driven chairman, Dr. Dele Ashiru and the equally Ogundipe-Solidarity driven Senate, championed by Prof. Agomo, for dissolution of the Anti-Corruption driven Council under the able leadership of Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN) and removal of the University's Registrar is not only laughable but a clear manifestation of desperation, debauchery, decadence and an iron-seared concience devoid of even the least sense of decorum or civility in the ranks of supposed dons of a first class Ivory Tower in the class of the highly prestigious University of Lagos.

The above posture being shamelessly portrayed and pursued actually poses question on the academic integrity of these Professors and Doctors beats one's wildest imagination as there is clearly no basis for the removal of the Council Chairman, who is arguably the most experienced and noble Pro-Chancellor in the country ditto for their outrageous demands the Registrar's removal Council dissolution as contained in their mischievous and clandestine memoranda allegedly submitted to the Visitation Panel last week Wednesday.

The two groups mentioned above, investigations revealed, have been beneficiaries of Prof. Toyin Ogundipe's alleged loot, which, if subjected to a thorough investigation and scrutiny of the EFCC and trial may send them to prison.

Professor Agomo, who was Senate's representative during the Appointment of Ogundipe by the University Council has been bitter over her non-appointment as a Deputy Vice Chancelor as earlier promised by Ogundipe.

Ashiru on the other hand is said to be a Senior Lecturer who desires to be an Associate Professor which is not yet merited.

Sources claim, it is obvious that their ambitions may not be realised under the current Council leadership and composition that ensures all promotions are based on merit.

Babalakin's Offence, according to our authoritative and independent sources, point to the following:

• Dr. Babalakin does not tolerate embezzlement

• He does not give room for preferential or fraudulent promotion of staff

• He believes in equal treatment of all cadres of staff across-board

• He is plain

• It is on record that he has given all Junior Staff #5000 each when the Management planned to underpay them

• He has exposed illegal Security Votes given to the Dean, Student Affairs, which was alleged to have been shared with ASUU leadership.

• He gave the Faculty of Law the sum of N500, 000.00 for 27 months to equip the Faculty's Library. This is the money Council's investigations reveal that Prof Atsenuwa cannot account for.

• He donated hectares of land to the University of Lagos. Et cetera, et cetera.

In the light of the above, the Visitor through the Visitation and the watchful and dicerning public are being put on red alert not to be bambozoed by the antics of these comic and dishonest elements who seems to be given other good members of ASUU and the University Senate a bad name.

Thank you.

Alumnus Ayowole Akintayo,
+234 808 218 7145

For: The Concerned Stakeholders of UNILAG

UNILAG's Indicted Acting Vice Chancellor and Bursar Abandon Desk for Abuja to Lobby with Ogundipe

By Ayowole Akintayo

The Acting VC of the University of Lagos, Professor Sade Ogunsola, who was indicted by the University Council along with the easrtwhile VC, Professor Toyin Ogundipe, the Bursar, Mr. Lekan Lawal and others, have on Monday September 7, left for Abuja with the University Bursar to lobby for a soft landing in the final report of the Visitation Panel recently set up by the Visitor in the very person of President Muhammad Buhari.

The duo, who were indicted in the Council Panel Reports, left Lagos immediately after meeting with the Union Leaders over the payment of the 'Lagos Factor' allowances.

The University Management is considering payment of the 'Lagos Factor Allowance' for the first time after a long clamour for same by the university staff as represented by their various unions.

A staff who pleaded anonymity volunteered that the Management had always deceived the institution's staff with promises of Profit Sharing but have never paid the Lagos Factor Allowance.

The trip to Abuja is to strengthen Ogundipe, former Vice Chancellor, who has been in Abuja since Sunday to lobby the Visitation Panel for a favourable report.

The fact that the Council's indictment report is already in public domain, and has infact been lodged with the EFCC, does not give much room for manipulations according to optimistic pundits who are of the view that any cover-up attempt in the final report of the Visitation Panel will eventually boomerang and deeply hurt the Anti-Corruption Image of the present administration whose main focal points are that of anti-corruption, security and economic well-being of the much belinguard nation.

Professorial corruption in the academia--- Unilag Senate's memorandum, a misleading oratory for the survival of the university system in Nigeria.

The Senate of Unilag in its submission to the Special Visitation Panel, displayed great scholarly endowment coupled with a legal master stroke. No doubt, the document will go for a good assessment as an academic exercise.

The down side of that piece was its silence on the serious issue, of corruption, that brought about the crisis, in the first instance. The document was rather harsh and vindictive on the perceived enemies of the Senate. Who are the enemies? Those guys who have vouched that corruption will not be allowed to destroy or kill, the brand, Unilag.

Frankly speaking, the Pro chancellor came to the University, under instruction, from the Visitor, with a definite mandate.

The proverb that says that "a chief installed and gives an assignment of a hawk, must not be timid of preying on chicken", is very relevant at this time. Dr. Babalakin, while exercising his authority as a Pro chancellor, detected financial malfeasance and arrested it. This is what the Senate is bringing out its legal arsenal to confront.

Dr Babalakin displayed patriotism, to the fatherland, by doing all within his powers, in the face of the stiff opposition, one of which the Senate of Unilag is, to take corrective measures to stop the slide into anomie by the University.

In recent past, at the Niger Delta University, the VC helped himself, with the University money, to the tune of N100m, to which the Council looked elsewhere. The summary was that the case was exposed, and the VC was removed along with the negligent Council. Similar financial infraction plagued University in Porthacourt, which also resulted into the removal of the VC and dissolution of the Council.

The argument of the Senate pontificated the Senate's role in the alleged financial malfeasance. Evidently, Senate members head the various money spinning Units where the financial recklessness are perpetrated. With this submission, that says or sees nothing to be wrong with corruption allegations, which, understandably, had been investigated and admitted to, for all intent and purposes, is a disservice to the fatherland. This Senate cares less if the University becomes extinct due to the extravagance of corruption, but rather concerns itself with keeping of the status quo, and its survival, by proclaiming due process.

This Senate must have been compromised. The VC is its chairman, if it can be this blatantly protective of its chairman, who had admitted committing the financial misdeeds, as to be vigorously championing the cause of due process, the University system is surely under siege. What is more, some officers indicted along with their chairman have refunded, partly, some of the monies traced to them. These are proofs that corruption allegations were true and real.

The Pro chancellor and chairman, Governing Council of University of Lagos had done the right thing by halting the progression of corruption in the University. The opposite stance of the Senate casts doubt on the probability of their being fair to the University system, were they to be involved in the investigation process.

Senate members, using the Universities Miscellaneous Act, 2003, now see themselves as the alpha and omega in the Universities. The Governing Council is also being seeing as an inferior organ compared to Senate.

The Registrar was given two conflicting orders from the two deputy vice Chancellors, to open the University Auditorium for them when the Senate was to meet. He needed to take precaution in the face of conflicting directives. Being on the side of caution, caused by the conflicting orders from the two DVCs, two leading members of the Senate, jostling for the position of Ag. VC, is now an offence worthy of the termination of the appointment of the Registrar, according to the Senate. This is sheer hypocrisy.

All certificates of the University of Lagos, like any other university, bears (As approved by the Senate). This is assaulting to the brand, University of Lagos. If good conduct has a question mark on the scholarship of the academia, what academic brand are we selling? Brilliance and corruption or Brilliance and good ambassadors of the citadel of learning? This position, of the Unilag Senate, is a misleading oratory to the posterity of the University of first choice and nation's pride.

The whole world is watching this, conspiratorial, intellectual display before history.

Any decision, on the crisis, that fails to address the issue of corruption, that was the genesis, but pays attention to the, latter day mantra of due process, is like paying attention, exclusively, to ringworm in a patient plagued with both ringworm and leprosy, simultaneously. Is leprosy not the principal disease? In this matter, the fight against corruption is more important.

Nobody raised the eye brow when THE GREEN PEN refused to comply with the dos and don't of the DUE PROCESS. Green pen had refused to observe/obey caution/warnings from due process before violating extant rules. HE WHO COMES TO EQUITY MUST COME WITH CLEAN HANDS.
You cannot genuinely appropriate what you cannot obey. Simplicitas.

Since the Senate is not coming to equity with clean hands, it is intellectually and legally instructive that such gesture has nullified the mandate of due process as a brand of defense. Seeking refuge on negation is in itself a negation of the negation of ideal on the reckless usage of green pen in institutional circles and international best practices.

The Outcome of UNILAG Visitation Panel: a Litmus Paper Test on Buhari's Anti-Corruption Stance

by Concerned Stakeholders

Consequent upon the decisive Anti-Corruption drive of the University of Lagos Governing Council to break the logjam occasioned by the unbridled corruption and lawlessness being perpetrated by the management of that inter-peres University of first choice, the Visitor, through the Minister of Education has set up a Visitation Panel to probe the allegations leveled against the management and the circumstances and processes leading to the removal of Professor Ogundipe and the appointment of Professor Soyombo as the Acting Vice Chancellor.

Judging from the Constitution of the Panel, it's body language so far, the appointment of the New Acting Vice Chancellor and the Acting Pro-Chancellor, both of whom have not hidden their support, collaboration and sympathy for the removed Vice Chancellor; it seems the direction of the panel and the Minister, despite claims to the contrary, are quite predictable.

The attitude of the government as perceived so far by stakeholders gives one a lot of concern as regards it's sincerity about it's much talked-about Anti-Corruption drive.

The Yoruba says;

*"Ani ka penupo ka b'olewi, ani ibi toloun fi nkan e si ko dara"*

Meaning: Instead of putting our voices together to roundly condemn the evil of thievery, we are saying the owner of the slolen good should have been more careful.

There is no better way to to licence and embolden the unbridled corruption presently ravaging our Federal Universities, especially, than this hands-in-gloves patting at the back of lawlessness as it is being openly displayed in the ongoing macabre dance at the University of Lagos.

The overwhelming support and collaboration of most members of the academic staff and now seemingly by the Visitor is stupefying, dumfounding and amazing. It is quite befuddling to see the Anti-Corruption government of President Buhari genuflecting in the face of an open and well documented corrupt and lawless activities of the erstwhile management of the University which are all by now in public custody.

Could it be that the government is intimidated by the active and noisy, infact violent, support being given to the ex-Vice Chancellor's alleged misdeamenor/Corrupt practices by ASUU, Senate and the Committee of Vice Chancellors?

The terms of reference of the Visitation Panel even suggest the possible humiliation of Council leadership and membership who are standing by the truth.

Who has done this to us as a nation?

I want to be proved wrong by the Visitor. My intelligence and that of UNILAG Critical and Concerned Stakeholders, hopefully, will not be insulted and denigrated.

The forces of light will certainly not be overcome by that of darkness in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

We have a sure mandate from God to salvage our nation and all her institutions from debauchery and hopelessness and insha Allah, we will overcome.

I hope the Visitor in person of President Muhammad Buhari is reading!

We want to see the true face of Anti-Corruption in this present case at the itvory Tower.

It was Chaucer, who said, while decrying the corruption of the Victorian age:

*"If gold should rust, what will iron do?*

*"If priests (Dons) who are expected to be holy (to lead exemplary lives) are theselves corrupt, what will ordinary men do?"*

I so adopt Chaucer's very words.

The above is my open memoranda to the Visitation Panel.

Thank you.

Alumnus Ayowole Akintayo,
±234 808 218 7145 (calls, sms & whatsApp)

For: The Concerned Stakeholders.

In moments, when life battle assails me, and lethargy or complacency tries to keep my company, i quickly turn to the classical spiritual hymnal. The special hymn that helped my forbears to attain victories over many battles of life:

"Christian, seek not yet repose
Hear the guardian Angel say,
Thou art in the midst of foes:
Watch and pray'


Principalities and powers,
Mustering their unseen array,
Waiting for thy unguarded hours:
Watch and pray

Gird thy heavenly armour on,
Wear it over, night and day:
Ambushed lies the evil one
Watch and pray

This piece is directly and strongly relevant in a moment like the one we find ourselves in Unilag.

We were all witnesses to an era characterised by guile, trickery and shenanigan. An era when our rights became privileges. But through an act of God, change took place, and we were relieved.

The rousing welcome accorded the new administrator, Prof. Omololu Soyombo, by the great staffers of Unilag, in their number, was a clear testimony of our collective yearning for change and betterment of our conditions. We must commend ourselves for making practical the adage, 'voce populi, voce Dei', ie voice of people is the voice of God.

But we must remind that the battle has not ended there. Those persons pushed out and their cronies, rightly labelled as the *vocal minority,* have not rested. Acceptance of their divinely willed fate is lacking. They have gone far and wide, dropping the imagination in the minds of those, outside here, who are not conversant with the happenings on our campus, drumming the beat of due process as their only music, doing their best to convince, the outside world, that they are in the majority. They have visited places and persons, who are sympathetic to the one sided story being peddled by the apostles of due process. Their love is now for the gold plate containing a shit. The gold plate, to them, has turned the shit to gold.

We in Unilag are saying that the shit has messed up the plate. The corruption has tainted the clamour for due process; shikena

From reliable sources, the beneficiaries of the damned era are regrouping and planning a protest, to counter our collective welcome of the new dawn, at the Senate house basement, on Monday, 24th August, 2020.

This is my reason for the hymn above. We must not rest on our oars. Their plan is to come out in a large number, even recruit commercial crowd, to make their wrong point. We have to dwarf their best imagination. They are less, we are more. Therefore, it is incumbent on us, to checkmate them, not by fighting them, but by Holding our own rally, elsewhere, on campus to showcase our superior in number to them. We must not allow them to escape with the lie! We shall reveal the truth, simultaneously, as they lay bare their falsehood.
LONG LIVE UNILAG
LONG LIVE UNILAG STAFF
LONG LIVE THE AG. VICE CHANCELLOR

The Non Academic Staff Union of the University of Lagos has dissociated itself from the comminuque released by ASUU against the removal of the former Vice Chancellor Prof. Ogundipe.

Nasu in the press release jointly signed by Comrades Ajibade, T.S Aderibigbe and A.J Aderibigbe, the Chairman Akoka Campus, Chairman Idi Araba Campus and the Secretary, respectively, on behalf of its member wish the Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Omololu a smooth sail in office.

The University Council led by Dr. Wale Babalakin , in the emergency Council meeting of 12th August, has sacked the former Vice-Chancellor Prof. Toyin Ogundipe on the allegations of Financial Mismanagement, and Abuse of Office.

Re: UNILAG CRISIS; SANITY PREVAILS AT LAST AS UNILAG'S GOVERNING COUNCIL WAKES UP TO ITS RESPONSIBILITIES

We, the Concerned Stakeholders of the great and highly prestigious University of Lagos, hereby heave a sigh of relief and congratulates all stakeholders of the University as the University Governing Council under the able leadership of Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), finally wakes up to its avowed responsibility by doing the needful to rescue our dear University of first choice from the inglorious impunity of financial and adminstrative recklessness it has been subjected to in the very recent past under the inept, corrupt and disoriented management leadership of the immediate past Vice Chancellor in the person of Professor Ogundipe.

We really symphatise with the disgruntled noisemakers in the University Community who are unwittingly :expressing solidarity with the out-gone Vice Chancellor despite the obvious and glaring allegations of corrupt practices and malfeseance. By their actions, they are giving active credence to lawlessness, impunity, insolemce, corru

The University Council is adequately equiped by the enabling Act and Laws of the University as amended, to hire and fire the Vice Chancellor and other Principal Officers of The University. And, as to the question of due process and fair hearing, the investigative panels earlier set up by the Council had consisted of the University Senate/Council members who had given the ex Vice Chancellor and others the ample opportunity to defend themselves.

We hereby congratulate the Acting Vice Chancellor, in the very person of Professor Theophilus Omololu Soyombo, even as we wish him a successful tenure to turn things around pending the appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor by the Council.

In conclusion, we wish to appeal to members of the University Senate and pockets of others within the University Community whose nerves are frayed, to see good reasons in the need for social distancing themselves from any corruption-infested personality by maintaining peace, discipline and tranquility on Campus; more so, in the interest of bequething a good and lasting legacy for our students and the upcoming generations.

Thank you

Alumnus Ayowole Akintayo,
±234 808 218 7145

For: Concerned Stakeholders of UNILAG

REMOVAL OF PROF. OLUWATOYIN OGUNDIPE AS UNILAG VICE CHANCELLOR; MATTERS ARISING.

At the University of Lagos, this is quite an unusual times. The hen has finally come home to roost, Prof. Ogundipe has been requested by his employer, the Council, to step aside.
The contentious word, now trending over this development, is "REMOVAL".
Not many people were shocked when the matter took this ugly turn. The development was not an accident. Some build up of tension had preceded this stage. The media was awashed with contents indicating that all was not well with the leadership in Unilag. Allegations of financial impropriety against Unilag officers, including the Vice chancellor, rented the air. Queries were issued. All of these were based on the reports of some Council committees, which have been of public knowledge. Most of us saw this coming. Therefore, no keen observer would be surprised that the matter took this turn.
Back to the issue of removal, and the procedure adopted. The amended Universities miscellaneous Act of 2003 requires the Council to set uo a joint Committee of itself and the Senate before a recommendation to remove the VC can be forwarded to the President, who is the Visitor.
The provision of the Universities Act is clear and unambiguous. But as it were, the Vice chancellor is the chairman of the Senate. With all these catalogue of damning Council committees' reports, touching on the person of the sitting Vice chancellor, the propriety, and the possibility, of allowing the Vice chancellor, as chairman of Senate, to participate, fairly, in the election or the nomination of the senate members to the "joint committee" of Council is an illusion.
The Council raised a motion, in its wisdom, to ask the Vice chancellor to drop those privileges, such as Senate chairmanship, by asking him to step aside. This step, called removal or suspension is a necessary step that paves way for the provision of the University Act to be seamlessly observed. The implication is that Professor Ogundipe cannot be a judge in his own case. This decision of the Council is in order.
REPORT OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF SENATE ON THE COUNCIL DECISION
The Senate representatives, to Council, acted in bad faith with their publicized report which they made to their constiruency, and which informed the emergency senate meeting. Their condemnation of the procedure that led to the step aside,or suspension or removal resolution, was an error. As a matter of fact, that they participated in the voting exercise, and not showing any dissension by way of abstaining from voting, validated the exercise and made them part and parcel of that decision, now tagged removal. If the voting result had come out in their favour, would they have cried foul? The more honourable thing was to have abstained from voting and report back accordingly, giving their reasons. By voting, they were part of the scheme that removed the Vice chancellor, as the result of the voting was binding on all of the participating Council members.
THE UNAUTHORIZED REPRESENTATION OF SSANU BY FORMER CHAIRMAN AND THE CURRENT VICE CHAIRMAN
The unauthorized representation of the senior staff union by duo of Comrade Oriwaye Adefolalu, an erstwhile SSANU Unilag branch Chairman, and the current Vice Chairman, SSANU, Unilag branch, Comrade Sowunmi is, to say the least, disappointing. The two had camouflaged a non-aligned posturing, before SSANU members, until their surreptitious collaboration with the ASUU leadership, where and when they posed as speaking for the Senior Non Teaching staff. While they have the freedom to associate with anybody, supporting a cause, on which SSANU has for long resolved to remain neutral, and going to the extent of signing a communique on behalf of the union, without the members' consent, is not a responsible action.

Besides, asking the representative of Congregation in Council to brief his constituency on the happenings in Council, as to how the step aside motion went, was unnecessary. It was rather hypocritical since the meeting was still on going

Going by the available accusations from the Council, certainly, the former Vice chancellor has a lot of explanations to make. Now free from official encumbrances, of the office of Vice chancellor, he can prepare his defence, and will not be interferring with the channels of investigation. The Acting vice chancellor will summon the Senate meeting to appoint/elect a senate member to join the Joint committee of the Council, as prescribed by the Universities Miscellaneous act, 2003. Only this arrangement can facilitate fairness and error free procedure.
It is the lot of all interested parties to sue for calm and allow justice, fairness and equity to play out in a matter like this.
Long live Unilag!

THE PROGRESSIVES
14/08/2020

SSANU EXECUTIVES DISSOCIATES FROM UNDEMOCRATIC UNILATERAL ACTIONS OF ACTING CHAIRMAN, COMRADE SHOWUNMI IN ASUU RALLY .
The Executive of Unilag Senior Staff Association of Nigeria wish to inform our democratic, well informed and honest Union members of the university of Lagos that the action of the Acting Chairman yesterday in the rally of Academic Staff union on the removal of the former Vice Chancellor of the university of Lagos, professor Toyin Ogundipe was a unilateral decision of his person and none of the Executive members was briefed.It should be made public that after he had made his blunders as usual it was also clear that our National body has called him to stay clear of the crisis he ignored all cautions.He is a dictator and self centered.

The letter of invitation for the Congress of ASUU was not extended to our Union, therefore, it is unthinkable and lawless for a signature to be appended on our behalf in abstentia.He is carelessly and recklessly ambitious to the extent that he appended his signature as Chairman when he was indeed in Acting Capacity. His inordinate ambition is terribly dangerous for representation of our noble Union. We are not in support of his one man SHOW.

In this regard,we humbly tender our apology to our members for this one man SHOW ignominy. We have been managing his reckless piloting of the union affairs till this very hour but on this autocratic development we are saying publicly that we are not involved. We are neutral on this issue. We pray for amicable resolution of crisis on the soil of university of Lagos. Your votes brought us to power and we must respect your mandate. Once again it was a one man SHOW not SSANU Unilag Branch Executives.Thank you all.

Signed.
Feyisetan Olaoluwa. B
Ag.Secretary (SSANU UNILAG)

The Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Omololu Soyombo received his appointment letter to resume work as the Vice Chancellor with Immidiate effect.

His appointment was announced by the University Council at its emmergency meeting in Abuja on Wednesdaty 12th August, where the former Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, was removed for act of financial recklessness, gross misconduct and abuse of office.

The letter, signed by the Registrar and Secretary to Council Mr. Oladejo Azeez reads, “In consequence of the removal, the Council at the same meeting and in accordance with the statutory powers resolved to appoint you as Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos in an Acting Capacity with immediate effect. Please take the letter as official communication of your appointment by Council.”

The University of Lagos Council has released documents that show the former Vice Chancellor was given a fair Hearing
https://www.myconcordblog.com/breaking-unilag-former-vc-was-given-fair-hearing/

AWAY from its seeming confrontational posture, the University of Jos, UniJos Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has added value to education as the union donated a 1,000 capacity twin lecture theatre to the university as part of its efforts at addressing infrastructural problems in the institution.

But the University of Lagos Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, has failed the whole nation as the union behaves like touts by pocknosing into the affairs of the Unilag Council and Management. The Union Chairman, Dr. Ashiru had hired some thugs from other Universities to the Campus on Wednesday, 15th July 2020 when he could not get the support of members for the Congress. They drove round the Campus making unpleasant noise against the Pro-Chancellor. It was obvious that the Branch Chairman is the only one acting under the umbrella of ASUU as none of his branch members supported him.

Chai!!! May God bless UNIJOS ASUU and give UNILAG ASUU what she deserves for working against His Anointed (Dr. Wale Babalakin)

AMEN

A senior member of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Unilag Branch and Professor of Sociology, Prof. Ndukaeze Nwabueze had responded to the threat of Dr. Dele Ashiru in the name of ASUU, Unilag Branch.

Prof. Nwabueze while addressing the press says, "ASUU, Unilag has no constitutionally defined standing in the misunderstanding between the Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council and the Management of the University of Lagos

The full release of the Press Release attached.



PRESS RELEASE BY PROFESSOR NDUKAEZE NWABUEZE, PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY AND MEMBER
OF ASUU (UNILAG) OVER THE CONFUSING CLOUDS OF CONFLICT GATHERING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS

My attention has been drawn to misrepresentations in some sections of the Lagos press on the above subject and I want hereby to clarify some murky issues.

1. First, let me state unequivocally that I am not a ‘pro-Babalakin professor’ or pro any other party in the unfolding imbroglio at the University of Lagos. My concern is the soul and integrity of my Union, ASUU, Unilag, the active and unbroken membership of which I have kept since March 1983, or 37 years now. I therefore fell entitled to speak my mind when I see the strange practices, novel methods and procedures and embarrassing actions emanating from the once revered, hallowed and dignified Union. The matter at issue has so embarrassed the members to the point that the elders cannot keep quiet any longer and escape accusation of complicity.

2. ASUU, Unilag has no constitutionally defined standing in the misunderstanding between the Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council and the Management of the University of Lagos. Our Union is neither PRO nor the ‘aluta’ wing of Management. The Union had neither declared a trade dispute against the Council of which Dr Wale Babalakin, SAN is the Chair. On the other hand, Management, to the best of my knowledge, has not declared inability to state its own side of the dispute if a conducive dispute settlement atmosphere was to be provided for that purpose. This is the path of honour which I would have supported my Union to play in these circumstances.

3. As I have made abundantly clear to my highly respected Chairman, where two parties are engaged in a fight, a responsible third person will not come in to take sides and conflagrate rather than douse the tension. I feel that by descending into the arena of conflict and supporting one side against the other, the Union is not only pouring petrol on a smouldering fire, it is fanning the embers of unending dispute. This is not in the interest of Council, Management, Members of ASUU, other Unions on campus, the entire staff, students, parents and guardians, the University community as a whole, our alumni, friends and the public in contact.

4. Our Union is behaving more like a misguided students’ union. It goes on the war path for the slightest provocation. Where is collective bargaining, dialogue, mediation, arbitration or even lobbying? Not too long ago, the Union embarked on its ‘struggle’ approach over a member’s case. That matter was settled to the happiness of all parties not towing the combative approach of the Union. This matter between the Council and Management shall be settled without any input by this Union. I can bet anybody this prediction. The consequence? Our Union is gradually sliding into functional irrelevance and, soon, our views will neither be sought nor matter anymore going forward.

5. May I appeal to Council and Management to think of the numerous interests that are suffering as a result of their disagreement, particularly our dear students, and drop ego- tripping and agree soonest to an amicable solution to the dispute. Do not forget that while you quarrel and rancour your period of appointment is fixed and, as a result, running out. Do you all want to go down in the history of Unilag as a regime that fought all their tenure away without positive achievements for which you will be remembered? At one and same time, I appeal to the warring parties to do away with the services of your hired gladiators and to the Men and Women of goodwill all over the country to intervene in this matter and let us win back the peace for which our University of First Choice and The Nation’s Pride is known and respected.

6. In case the Executive of the Union is unaware, our members are suffering. We have gargantuan challenges, that should bother and occupy them rather than executing ‘proxy wars’, issuing threats they have no means to enforce and leaving out the reasons for which we elected them into office. Let the Union re-channel its energies to the following, among others:
- Members are grumbling that while ASUU (National) prosecutes industry-wide causes (approvingly) our salary has been eaten hollow by inflation, tumbling exchange rate and non-inclusion of short periodic salary review as a priority. This can emanate from the branch to the national.
- Our participant share of programmes executed by our members is inequitable and uninspiring and should be negotiated upwards.
- For those of us who live in official quarters, when last did we have relevant University department carry out repair and maintenance services in the quarters? Is that treatment the same with the quarters occupied by the members of Management for which our Union is fighting?
- Retired members do not enjoy free basic health services and this is when they would need it most because by the natural course of advances in age they have more health problems and their take home pay has dwindled. Where is our Union?
- What about the injustice, favouritism and unfair practices in allocation of campus quarters. Is there any reason why staff complain and the Union looks the other way?
- When last did I hear that staff is granted house purchase, house renovation, or land purchase loan? Have you inquired why it could not be experimented from IGR?
- We teach very large classes without interactive boards and public address systems (PAS) and other impartation enhancers. Why not face this?
- COVID-19 has no doubt delivered heavy blows on our health care system, the national economy, individual and family livelihood and truncated old social interaction norms, but has unquestionably elevated some new norms. One of these is virtual and online lectures, issuance of assignments and grading, meetings, workshops and conferences. Why not engage the Management right now to make this a University-wide policy and articulate the financial, material and human resource training and development implications. Some universities in this country are already training their staff en masse. Engage the Management in these ways that can benefit the community as a whole, etc .
If we all eschew selfishness, narcissism, the me-myself-and-I spirit, we can all avoid these hiccups in the system. There is too much of the virus of ‘stomach infrastructure’ around here. Issued this Wednesday, 15 July, 2020

Signed: Professor Ndukaeze Nwabueze

Press Release

Unwaranted Brigandage and Threat to Pro-Chancellor's Life: UNILAG ASUU Chairman at it Again

In a release on March 19, 2020, (please see Attachment 1 below); we, the peace-loving Concerned Stakeholders of the great University of Lagos had alerted the Inspector General of Police (IGP) on the need to pre-empt the UNILAG ASUU Chairman, Dr. Dele Ashiru on his strong inclination to take the laws into his own hands by threatening the life of the Pro-Chancellor of the University, Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN) through his mobilization of a motley crowd of irritants to declare the Pro-Chancelor a 'persona non grata'

Dr. Ashiru who is by now emboldened by the non-action of the Police Chief on our call to intensify his resolve at commiting this heinous act of criminality.

In a "Notice of Special Emergency Congress" slated for Wednesday, 15th July, 2020 at 9am to hold at the "Foyer of Council Chamber" with the sole Agendum of "Congress Resolution of 11th March 2020" and personally signed by Dr. 'Dele Ashiru, (please see Attachment 2 below),where he is inviting willing "ASUU MEMBERS" to join him to perpetrate an act of criminality.

It should be noted by the general public and law enforcement agents that the above proposed "Congress" is slated to coincide with and to forestall the proposed University Council Meeting scheduled to hold about the same time and to be presided over by the Pro Chancellor, God Willing.

It is quite obvious that Dr. Ashiru and his co-travelers are being apprehensive that the issue of the alleged indiscrepancies committed by some management staff may be tabled for discussion at the next Council meeting hence the desperate and surrepitious attempt to pre-empt and stop the meeting from holding.

We hereby reiterate our call, for the umpteenth time, to the IG to direct the Assistant Inspector General (AIG), South-West Zone or the State Commissioner of Police to invite, caution and stop Dr. Dele Ashiru and his cohorts on their determined evil tracks.

A detachment of Police Crack Team must also be stationed within the university premises to ensure the safety of lives and properties with specific reference to the Pro-Chancelor and other Council Officials expected at the meeting.

By this pattern of bad behavior and brigandage been demonstrated by the supposed Chairman of the academic staff one wonders what kind of legacy the likes of Dr. Ashiru wish to bequeath to university students and the coming generation.

The amazing thing in all of this is the undignifying silence of the Vice Chancellor who is the Chief Security Officer/Chief Executive Officer in charge of the day to day running of the University.

Naturally, one would have expected him to speak up on the raging allegations of impropriety against his office and on the propensity of the ASUU Chairman to forment trouble and unleash mayhem on the entire university community.

We are still waiting for him to do the needful and urgently too!

Thank you

Signed
Ayowole Akintayo,
(+234 808 218 7145)
Unbehalf of The Concerned Stakeholders.

Attachment 1:

Press Release By the Concerned Stakeholders of UNILAG on the current Impasse on Campus.

Tittle: Why UNILAG VC must Proceed on Leave Immediately...

IG must Address Threat To Pro Chancellor's Life.

We, the Concerned Stakeholders of the University of Lagos, comprising staff, old students, parents and students, have finally been vindicated on the current state of impunity and lawlessness which is actively backed by the university's ASUU leadership on our darling Campus.

When the University Council under the able leadership of Dr.7 Wale Babalakin sought to call management to order from its avowed path of financial recklessness, outright departure and flagrance disobedience to the University's Edict, it was bullied and accused of seeking to hijack the authority of the Vice Chancellor. But the sequence of events as recorded by the Council Minutes and relayed in the latest edition of Camus News (copies attached), leading to the tragedy of postponing the University's 2019 convocation, has exposed the unrelenting path of insanity and lawlessness embarked upon by the management as cheered on by ASUU leadership.

To make things worse, UNILAG ASUU Chairman, Dr. Dele Ashiru, addressed a Press Conference, in which among other misrepresentations of the truth of what transpired, went ahead to take the laws into his hand by threatening the life of the Pro Chancellor and forbidding him from further stepping on the Campus.

What brigandage! What lawlessness!! What impunity!!!

We hereby alert the Inspector-General of the Nigerian Police and Director-General of the Department of State Security Services (DSS) to take urgent steps to preempt the UNILAG ASUU Chairman from carrying out his avowed criminal intentions as we don't know how he intends to carry out his threat of preventing the Pro Chancellor from carrying out his lawful duties on Campus as Council Chairman.

In order not to hold our 2019 graduands to further strain and for the university to move on; we advise the relevant authorities to advise the Vice Chancellor to proceed on immediate leave while a Deputy Vice Chancellor should be allowed to take over in an acting capacity to lay a detailed plan and new date for the 2019 Convocation Ceremonies before the Council for scrutiny and approval.

We've read through the Vice Chancellor's account of what transpired in Council. It is diametrically opposed to Council's official record as rendered by the Registrar and Secretary to Council.

The VC's account is without an iota of doubt, a shoddy afterthought, fallacious and full of contradictions

It actually stood logic on head .

If it is true that Council has approved details of the Convocation arrangement, the Pro-Chancellor would not have written the letters of caution to management through the VC.

Again, the ministry of education and the NUC would not have advised the vc to postpone the event if it is true as claimed by the vc that they were privy to details of the Convocation ceremony. We should not forget their representatives were present in Council.

The persistent and deliberate lawlessness and continuous insubordination of management to the superintendent roles of the Council finally got exposed and became glaring to the whole world.

The whole world can now see that the Concerned Stakeholders were not crying wolf when we made earlier warning public releases on this gross indiscipline and lawlessness being perpetrated by management

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

Alumnus Ayowole Akintayo,
+234 0808 218 7145

For and Unbehalf of UNILAG Concerned Stakeholders.

Attachment 2:

NOTICE OF SPECIAL EMERGENCY CONGRESS

In line with the VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE AND DECLARATION OF PERSONA NON GRATA on Dr Wale Babalakin by Congress Resolution of 11th March 2020, members are hereby invited to an Special Emergency Congress as scheduled below

Date: Wednesday, 15th July 2020
Venue: Foyer of Council Chamber
Time: 9:00am

Agendum:
1) Congress resolution on Dr Wale Babalakin

Please attend punctually.

MEMBERS ARE REST ASSURED THAT ALL COVID-19 PROTOCOL WOULD BE STRICTLY ADHERED

A People United Can Never be Defeated.
Solidarity forever

'Dele ASHIRU
Chairman, ASUU UNILAG

The Registrar and Secretary to Council of the University of Lagos, Mr. Oladejo Azeez has reacted to threat issued by the ASUU, University of Lagos Branch against the person of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman to the University Council, Dr. Wale Babalakin.

Ashiru has called all members of ASUU to a Congress to disallow the Chairman of Council access to the Council Meeting scheduled to hold on Wednesday, 15th July, 2020.

Find below the release of the Registrar and Secretary to Council.


From The Office of The Registrar



Re: Threat by ASUU to disrupt Council Meeting

As Secretary of the Council of The University of Lagos, my attention has been drawn to the notice of Congress by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) ,University of Lagos branch, to take place on Wednesday, 15th of July , 2020, at the Fower of the Council Chambers.

It is important to note that Council had earlier issued a notice for the Council Meeting commencing on the same 15th of July 2020.

This Council Meeting, apart from being statutory was also requisitioned by the Vice Chancellor of the University.

The Vice Chancellor recently requisitioned the meeting to the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr Wale Babalakin on May 11, 2020 and June 26, 2020 respectively.

The time and topic by ASUU for their Congress clearly indicate plan ASUU to disrupt the Council Meeting, especially since it has issued several threats to prevent the Pro Chancellor from coming to the University.

This action is violently against the provision of Section 41, subsection 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which guarantees freedom of movement of Nigerians within Nigeria.

ASUU as a trade union under the laws of Nigeria is also expected to know that Section 4 of the Trade Union Act states that “No person shall subject any other person to any form of constraint or restriction in the course of persuasion.”

Obviously, ASUU, University of Lagos Chapter has shown clearly that it is a group that does not adhere to the Constitution of Nigeria or the Trade Union law which it is a part of.

As a responsible Council, we will not engage ASUU, University of Lagos branch on issues that are beyond it's duties, powers and responsibilities under the laws of Nigeria.

We therefore advice all law abiding Nigerians to discountenance the action of ASUU University of Lagos branch as irresponsible.

By Ayowole Akintayo

The attention of the Concerned Stakeholders of the great University of Lagos has been drawn to a spurious and faceless write-up of one 'Azeez' of a supposed group called 'UNILAG Vanguard'. Silence, the age long saying goes, is the best answer for a fool, especially one in the clout of a faceless 'Alabi Azeez' who most likely has been hired to do this hatchet job; we strongly feel it is better to enlighten him and his rail-roaded group on what they don't know.

His argument was basically false and shows that he was merely paid to do his master's bidding. A simple showmanship of his failure and false allegations to satisy his master includes the purported trending twitter feed “#SavemyUnilag” between a gang of three persons, one would suspect of one in their repetitious style of writing in the comfort of his living room. We do advise his paymaster to demand for an immediate refund and not patronise phonies anymore. We sing at our better convenience and on behalf of your paymasters in collection of their refund at the Alabi Azeez; “Catch am Catch am, thief, thief, thief, thief, catch am, catch am, robber, robber”

UNILAG has always been known to be the best, even before the emergence of Professor Ogundipe, who was appointed by Dr. Wale Babalakin's led Council despite the fact that he was not the candidate with the best performance at the interview.

Ogundipe owes the world an explanation on how he mesmerised the Council Selection Board through the manipulative means by influencing the election of two representatives of Senate on the selection Board, made overture to one or two Council members which made the 5(five)-man panel headed by Babalakin a mere rubber stamp and other two resource persons in attendance were made mere passengers.

The Panel were forced to appoint the least qualified candidate in Ogundipe who had a Second class lower, least experience in Research and Teaching and a migrant Alumnus of University of Ife breed as against many distinguished Alumni cand Academics.

The University appointment proved bookmakers wrong and would haunt the University for a longtime with Ogundipe’s, mediocrity and assumption of powers coupled with his inexperience and gallivanting the globe for self-aggrandisement. Nobody has seen the so-called research grants but his cronies who are always globe-trotting.

The fund is also not made available to the Governing Council of the University of Lagos. The doldrums in SSANU Executive should be blamed on the Management led by Ogundipe as the Vice Chancellor, who continues to harass and intimidate the interim government in which he has denied the release of hard-earned dues and refused further collection in the past Eighteen months to deny the body of finance and membership.

This is the grand-style of Ogundipe which his agents supervise to ensure SSANU is completely crippled. No sympathy for the indolent group for their refusal to confront the VC and wrestle SSANU from their master’s claws because of the largesse they get which led to the organising of a Family meeting to undermine the productive Babalakin Town Hall Meeting in 2018

References to MM2 and Lagos Ibadan express ways do not have anything to do with the performance of the Pro Chancelor as Chairman of the University Council. Nevertheless, to educate Alabi Azeez, it is worthy of note that the MM2 is a Build, Operate and Transfer whilst the Lagos Ibadan Expressway was suspended by the Federal Government. None were ever financed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, rather the Pro-chancellor should be compensated.

Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), before his present appointment, had twice served as the Pro-Chancellor of two different Federal Universities.

He has also served as Chairman of all Pro Chancellors in Nigeria.

With this huge experience and tested performance therefore, it is beyond any shadow of doubt that the Federal Government did not make any mistake in his appointment having taken cognizance of his ability to move a first class university like UNILAG forward.

Even the Vice Chancellor will readily attest to the huge financial contributions of Babalakin to faculties in the University. The pledge of the Pro-chancellor to donate 40 hectares of land to the University of Lagos after his several financial contributions should not be left to bad taste by the sponsored UNILAG VANGUARD who would pray to have the first slice of it upon crystallization.

The Pro-Chancellor has never collected his sitting allowances for Council meetings since assumption of office. He has only been playing his part cheerfully and sacrificially as the Chairman who believes in due process and strict adherence to the University's governing Act.

If anyone cares to know; the Council Sub-Committee that discovered the humongous financial irregularities comprised more of staff of the University of Lagos in its membership and is headed by a Professor of Public Sector Accounting. If the Vice Chancellor and his management team has the best of intentions; what stops him from seeking Council's scrutiny and approval according to UNILAG's establishing Act's stipulation? The idea being mooted by Alabi Azeez on the large funds in the account is a mere after thought, not even contemplated by the Ogundipe led Management to the Sub-committee as there was no mention of savings to build or reference to the University of Lagos Masterplan Or does this justify the approved budget of 2019 for cleaning services to the tune of Three Hundred and Sixty Four Million Naira (N364,000,000) and the proposed 2020 budget for cleaning services of Four Hundred and Eighteen Million Naira (N418,000,000) or the over bloated security Budget which far exceeds the entire fund for Academic Faculties and Administrative Department. Are the Cleaners better off than the academics and administrators despite the claim that the Vice Chancellor brought the University to "Number One in Nigeria and Eight in Africa". Monkey Dey work Baboon Dey chop....Yeye People!

The alarming justifications and comparisons in the Financial Reports by Alabi Azeez shows he lacks the basic understanding of expenditure and Income which a JSS 1 Student at International School Lagos should have a perfect understanding about.
It is only a rogue that will support the management's lawless attitude of keeping the accounts away from the supervisory authorities.

Whereas, Section 7 of the University Act is clear except where there is a deliberate intention to ignore or disobey.

Section 7 (1) says inter alia:

"Subject to the provisions of this Act relating to the Visitor, the Council shall be the governing body of the University and shall be charged with the general control and superintendence of the policy, finances and property of the University, including its public
relations".

The faceless writer may certainly need re-tutoring on clarity of interpretation of the section 7, if the willingness to learn is there. Once again, we are only apt to advise this lawless creature and a waste of further resources bereft of depth that the Section 5 University of Lagos Act stipulates the membership and composition of the Governing Council of the University of Lagos.
We have offered this response for him and others in his group to learn.

POSTPONEMENT OF CONVOCATION

On the postponement of 2019 Convocation;even the Vice-Chancellor know he was wrong. He was only trying to vindicate himself . The suggestion that the next Council meeting be held at the mainbowl of the University auditorium is quite laughable and a product of ignorance on civility, protocol and ethics.

Ayowole Akintayo is two time graduate of the University of Lagos and a Spokesperson for the Concerned Stakeholders of UNILAG.

He could be reached on WhatsApp via +234 808 218 7145

– Uncovers Large Bank Accounts with ₦9.7Billion

The Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Dr.Wale Babalakin has pledged to donate (forty) 40 hectares of land for UNILAG Staff Home Ownership Scheme and Housing Estate. This was exposed in the Council Resolutions -Part 2 released by the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Azeez Oladejo on Thursday, 19 March 2020. Babalakin who gave all junior staff of the University Christmas Bonus of ₦5000 in December 2019, will hand over his private land property at Ogudu to the University.

The Council Sub committee on University Finances and the 2020 Budget Estimates with Realistic and Anticipated Income and Expenditure also discovered large Bank accounts with the total Balance of Nine Billion, Seven Hundred and Ninety Seven Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty Six thousand , seven hundred and twenty three naira, Fifty Six Kobo (₦9,797,756,723.56). The accounts, being managed by the University Management without the knowledge of the Council. The release states, “Council members expressed surprise about the Sub-Committee’s finding that the University had large funds in its bank accounts and the Council did not have knowledge of such.”

Some staff, who pleaded anonymity confirmed that there has been artificial scarcity on campus as the Management always claim there is no money. Some Heads of Department that spoke with our correspondent also complained that the departments , Units and Faculty offices do not have stationeries because Management cuts down the budget on the basis that there is no money. Other members of staff also said that welfare package is zero.

Efforts to speak with the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ogundipe and the Information officer of the University, Mrs. Oloyede proved abortive as their phones were not reachable.

Press Release By the Concerned Stakeholders of UNILAG on the current Impasse on Campus.

Tittle: Why UNILAG VC must Proceed on Leave Immediately...

IG must Address Threat To Pro Chancellor's Life.

We, the Concerned Stakeholders of the University of Lagos, comprising staff, old students, parents and students, have finally been vindicated on the current state of impunity and lawlessness which is actively backed by the university's ASUU leadership on our darling Campus.

When the University Council under the able leadership of Dr. Wale Babalakin sought to call management to order from from its avowed path of financial recklessness, outright departure and flagrance disobedience to the University's Edict, it was bullied and accused of seeking to hijack the authority of the Vice Chancellor. But the sequence of events as recorded by the Council Minutes and relayed in the latest edition of Camus News (copies attached), leading to the tragedy of postponing the University's 2019 convocation, has exposed the unrelenting path of insanity and lawlessness embarked upon by the management as cheered on by ASUU leadership.

To make things worse, UNILAG ASUU Chairman, Dr. Dele Ashiru, addressed a Press Conference, in which among other misrepresentations of the truth of what transpired, went ahead to take the laws into his hand by threatening the life of the Pro Chancellor and forbidding him from further stepping on the Campus.

What brigandage! What lawlessness!! What impunity!!!

We hereby alert the Inspector-General of the Nigerian Police and Director-General of the Department of State Security Services (DSS) to take urgent steps to preempt the UNILAG ASUU Chairman from carrying out his avowed criminal intentions as we don't know how he intends to carry out his threat of preventing the Pro Chancellor from carrying out his lawful duties on Campus as Council Chairman.

In order not to hold our 2019 graduands to further strain and for the university to move on; we advise the relevant authorities to advise the Vice Chancellor to proceed on immediate leave while a Deputy Vice Chancellor should be allowed to take over in an acting capacity to lay a detailed plan and new date for the 2019 Convocation Ceremonies before the Council for scrutiny and approval.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

Alumnus Ayowole Akintayo,
+234 0808 218 7145

For and Unbehalf of UNILAG Concerned Stakeholders.

PRESS RELEASE ON THE UNILAG POWER TUSSLE
PREAMBLE
In this era of Freedom of Information Bill rights and privileges, the University of Lagos is in the front burners of disseminating facts and counter facts contained in two (2) recent Editions of the Campus News as follows:
1. THE UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS dated March 9, 2020.
2. RE: THE UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS COUNCIL RESOLUTION dated March 16, 2020.

A summary of the allegations and counter allegations on the postponement of the 2019 (51st) Convocation ceremonies has revealed an ominously dangerous and festering power tussle between the University Management, led by Prof. "Toyin Ogundipe, and the Governing Council, led by the Chairman Dr. "Wale Babalakiin (SAN).

THE GENESIS AND PROGRESSION OF THE CONFLICT.
The conflict first reared its ugly head sometime in 2019 with the slogan HARVEST OF QUERIES which featured prominently in social as well as national print and electronic media.
Against all the reasonable moves and efforts rallied at tackling the lingering issue, the University community has, sadly, been polarized into either Pro-Ogundipe or Pro-Babalakin camps, with intrigues of mistrust and victimisation of opposing camps.
The polarization got worsened with one of the Unions strongly disparaging first, the Office of the Registrar in 2019, and currently (2020) the Chairman of Council and Pro-Chancellor. In response to the referred offending and/or partisan, unprintable remarks, appropriate rejoinders were issued suing for peace and withdrawal of the tag of "persona non grata"".
BALANCING THE EQUATION
As unrelenting stakeholders and concerned members of the University community, we are poised to maintain the status quo by passing "a vote of confidence" on the Pro-Chancellor and Council Chairman to allow for a level playing ground. In other words, we condemn in it's entirety the threat of jungle justice, to drive Dr. 'Wale Babalakiin (SAN) out of the University community while performing or attempting to perform his duties. It is indeed our belief that this vote of confidence will forestall breakdown of law and order, as well as afford the luxury of time for the final resolution of this conflict, by the right quarters.

ADVERTORIAL

THE UNILAG CRISIS:
SAVE UNILAG FROM SINKING
By
The Concerned Stakeholders

INTRODUCTION
We represent the entire interest groups of the University with members cutting across Staff, Parents/Guardians, Alumni, Pensioners, Taxpayers and other persons.

FOLLOW US ON THE HIGHLIGHT OF ISSUES:

A. CONTRACTOR OF UNILAG COLLAPSED NEW LIBRARY BUILDING RESUMES AT SITE

We have on reliable information that the same Contractor (Dutum) responsible for the construction of University collapsed library building has resumed to site since Saturday, 15th June, 2019.

We are amazed at the negligence, unseriousness and nonchalance of the University Management’s claim to be obeying the House of Representatives Committee on Procurement and disregarded the Council directive on pending investigations by reinstating the Contractor (Dutum) to the site in spite of all the infractions below:

 Disqualified Contractor (Dutum) reinstated by the University Management.
 Federal Executive Council’s approval sidelined by the University Management.
 Panel recommendation that some Principal Officers should face Disciplinary Committee.

The implication of return to the site by the Contractor is very grievous for the present and future. Let’s leave it to your imagination on the danger portrayed to staff, students and public. Something needs to be done immediately to stop this administrative insensitivity.

B. HIGHLIGHTS OF FINANCIAL MISAPPROPRIATION ON WHICH THE UNIVERSITY COUNCIL IS DAGGER DRAWN WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY
 Above One Hundred and Twelve Million Naira (N112million) spent on renovation of Official quarters as against Fifty Million Naira (N50million) budgeted – Vice-Chancellor; N49million plus N2million, Bursar; N41million and Immediate Past Registrar;N22million, among others, for renovation.
 N57million spent on Overseas Travel by some Principal Officers and two Directors between March and December, 2018 with unauthorized payment of Local Running Cost.
 Contract splitting and approval above Vice-Chancellor’s limit to the tune of about N750million and more
 Unappropriated Expenditure – Council approval not obtained on several expenditures.
 Average sum of N2.5million monthly security grant to the current Dean of Student Affairs which amounted to N41million between May, 2017 – September, 2018.
 Continuous payment of monthly security grant while student facilities suffer.

THE UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS IN RECENT TIMES: THE FACTS, THE FICTION AND THE TRUTH
The University of Lagos has been in the spotlight in the recent past for troubling reasons. In the exchanges that have come to the public domain, there is demonstrable evidence of dispute between the Management of the University and its Governing Council. In the communication, there had been mutual recriminations about the prerogatives and statutory competence of these two echelons of authority in the University. In a bid to assert their competence by the Management and Council, there had been allegations of acting within or beyond legal authority and usurpation of authority. A particular stakeholder (The Academic Staff Union of Universities) has come out with vitriolic criticisms of the Council accusing it of crippling dictatorship and tyranny. The scenario had been a struggle among facts, fiction and the truth. In the information, the truth appears to be getting the short edge of the stick. This, therefore, makes it inevitable to take a critical look at the discourse with a view to separating among the facts, the fiction and the truth. This write up by the concerned interest groups of the University is intended to give the general public a balanced view of events as they are to enable it to have informed opinion about the situation, separate facts from fiction and have an idea about the truth.
Each organ of the University is a creation of the Act from which it derives its prerogatives and functions. Below are the organs and their prerogatives:

THE OFFICE OF THE VICE CHANCELLOR AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY
The responsibilities for the Management of the University rest with the Vice Chancellor. Section 9 (1) & (2) of the University of Lagos Act provides as follows:

“9 (1) The Vice-Chancellor shall in relation to the University take precedence before all members of the University except the Chancellor and subject to Section 6 of this Act, except the Pro-Chancellor and any other person for the time being acting as Chairman of the Council”

“THE PRO-CHANCELLOR AND CHAIRMAN-OF-COUNCIL” AND “THE COUNCIL”
The Council of the University is headed by a legal practitioner, Dr. Olawale Babalakin, OFR, SAN who is the first alumnus Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council. He occupied the same position before his current appointment at the University of Maiduguri.
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