The management of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, has sacked one of its lecturers, Omananyi Yunusa, over his involvement in sexual harassment of a female student of the institution.
The Deputy Director, Information and Publications of the university, Lydia Legbo, who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview, said the dismissal of Mr Yunusa, a lecturer in the Department of Geology, followed the outcome of investigation into alleged sexual assault on a female student in the department who took a course taught by him.
“Yes, he was dismissed for sexual harassment after investigations proved beyond reasonable doubt,” the spokesperson said.
The dismissal was approved during the University Council’s 131st meeting after an investigative panel constituted by Vice Chancellor Abdullahi Bala found Mr Yunusa guilty of inappropriate relationship with the student.
“The news was kept away from media to avoid distraction,” Yusuf Abideen, a student of the institution, told PREMIUM TIMES. “In fact, most other departments were not aware. We all saw the resolution.”
A colleague of the victim, who does not want his name mentioned for fear of victimisation, told PREMIUM TIMES Mr Yunusa’s dismissal would “bring peace to the department.”
“My class governor is a lady but she feels very reluctant when we want to have ‘things’ to do with Mr Yunusa. It got to a time, we felt like impeaching her only to realise that she was avoiding the lecturer because of harassment,” the student said.
“We all got the notice about his dismissal, he disappointed himself,” a senior staffer said.
The University Vice Chancellor, however, said the dismissal of the lecturer would serve as lesson to others to ensure total elimination of sexual harassment in the university community.
The lecturer’s dismissal follows a similar one in another university.
On June 20, the Obafemi Awolowo University announced the dismissal of a lecturer, Richard Akindele, after he was found guilty of misconduct with a female student of the school.
“The Council, at its meeting of today, Wednesday, 20th of June, 2018, having considered the recommendation of Senate, as well as the report of the Joint Committee of Council and Senate, decided that Professor Richard I. Akindele should be dismissed from the services of the University for gross misconduct,” the Vice Chancellor, Eyitope Ogunbodede, said.
On July 12, the Lagos State University (LASU) issued a query to Sunkanmi Odubunmi, another accused lecturer involved in a scandal with a student and the case is already before a Joint Action Disciplinary Committee.
Adekoya Martins, the university’s spokesperson said the management of the institution had zero tolerance for such act.
The LASU Registrar, Olayinka Amuni, has said the sanction for such act once established would be dismissal.
Also, the University of Lagos has called for submission of memoranda to its probe panel on sexual harassment allegations involving one of its staffers, Olusegun Awonusi.
The university appealed to blogger Linda Ikeji, who first reported on the matter, to assist in convincing Nwanna Joy, the ‘victim’ to defend her sexual harassment claim.
The institution’s vice-chancellor also said UNILAG might involve the police to help invite her.
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