ASUU Seeks Probe Of Unillorin Management Over Corruption
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), on Monday, urged President Mohammadu Buhari to order immediate probe of the management of the University of Ilorin over alleged fraud and corrupt activities rocking the institution.
ASUU, in a statement signed by the Ibadan Zonal Coordinator of the Union, Dr Ade Adejumo and Chairman, University of Ibadan ASUU chapter, Dr Deji Omole, stated that it is only by probing the alleged fraud and corruption at the University of Ilorin that President Buhari can prove to ASUU that “he is truly committed to fighting corruption“.
ASUU alerted of the sack of UniIlorin ASUU Secretary, Dr Solomon Oyelekan barely 72 hours after the Chairman of the union, Dr Kayode Afolayan was sacked for “blowing the whistle on the corrupt activities of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali, for allegedly subverting due process in the employment and promotion of his wife among other atrocities.”
ASUU maintained that there is also the need for “all Nigerians and the appropriate authorities to intervene urgently to restore justice in the University and stave off a needless national crisis.”
Harping on the sack of its local ASUU Secretary, the union said, “a few days ago, the University of Ilorin terminated the appointment of Dr K.N. Afolayan, who is the chairperson of our Union in the University. We immediately gave a press conference and pointedly accused the University of Ilorin as a terrorist organization as far as industrial relations is concerned.
“Barely 72 hours after, the University again forwarded a letter to terminate the appointment of Dr Solomon Oyelekan, the Secretary of our Union in the University. We believe that even the press must be shocked by this brazen new demonstration of terrorism. It is time once again for the nation to focus on the evil machinations of the current and past administrations in the University of Ilorin,” it said.
ASUU challenged the administration of the university of Ilorin “to state the offence of the purportedly sacked ASUU leadership committed other than an open display of victimization. “It is laughable that the information officer of Unilorin, Mr Kunle Akogun, defended the university as following due process.”
The union wondered why ” the same ‘due process’ was blind to genuine and established acts of misconduct such as sexual harassment, plagiarism and corruption, but is only trained to terminate the appointment of ASUU Officers.
“Our tag of UniIlorin as terrorist is based on its actions of terrorizing progressive staff and students, and indeed, the community for nearly two decades. It is common knowledge that in 200, the University sacked 49 academics for no other reason than that they remained on strike along with their colleagues nationwide.
“At least three of them died in the brutal circumstances of the termination of appointment. But for the University’s action, the likes of Professors Adegbija and Annor and Dr Ajayi would be alive today.”
ASUU added that, ” the University vilified the staff, told lies against them, forged documents against them, sent gun trotting men, cudgel wielding security and sometimes cultists after them, evicted them from their university quarters, deprived them of their means of livelihood and their health access, chased them from alternative job options, leading to the death of three of them. If all of these is not terrorism within the context of a University, then what else is?
“UNILORIN is the place where all manner of atrocities take place: court bailiffs are regularly beaten up in the office of the Vice Chancellor and the Registrar; none of the Unions is allowed to participate in national actions, yet the University proceeds to benefit from such actions; several staff including genuine.”