Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: Pro. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe

  • Nigeria President Buhari Reinstates Sacked UNILAG Vice Chancellor, Dissolves Babalakin-led Council

    Nigeria President Buhari Reinstates Sacked UNILAG Vice Chancellor, Dissolves Babalakin-led Council

    President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday ordered the immediate dissolution of the Wale Babalakin-led Governing Council, University of Lagos.

    This was coming as the Buhari administration gave reasons for the reinstatement of the suspended university’s Vice Chancellor, Toyin Ogundipe.

    Though Babalakin and some members of the council have since tendered their resignation letters, the latest decision of to Federal Government was in fulfilment of the recommendation of a Special Visitation Panel set up by President Buhari to resolve the crisis rocking the institution following the controversial removal of Ogundipe.

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    “President Muhammadu Buhari, and Visitor to University of Lagos has approved the Report of the Special Visitation Panel to University of Lagos.

    “The highlights of the findings and recommendations approved by Mr. President are as follows:

    “The removal of Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe as the Vice Chancellor did not follow due process.

    “The Vice Chancellor was not granted an opportunity to defend himself on the allegations upon which his removal was based. He should accordingly be re-instated.

    “All allegations made against the Vice Chancellor and the management of the University before and after the Constitution of the Special Visitation Panel should be referred to regular Visitation Panel for thorough investigation and necessary recommendations.

    “The process adopted by the Council in the appointment of Professor Omololu Soyombo as Acting Vice Chancellor of the university was inconsistent with the provisions of the law relating to the appointment of an Acting Vice Chancellor.

    “The Governing Council should be dissolved.

    “Mr. President after careful review of the report has approved all the recommendations of the panel.

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    “Accordingly, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe is hereby reinstated as the Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos.

    “The Governing Council of University of Lagos Chaired by Dr. B. O. Babalakin is hereby dissolved,” said a statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Education, Ben-Bem Goong.

    It would be recalled that Ogundipe was accused of financial impropriety and gross misconduct. He was removed controversially at a council meeting which took place at the headquarters of the National Universities Commission (NUC) in Abuja.

    The relationship between Prof. Ogundipe and Dr. Babalakin became strained about two years ago.

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • Sacked UNILAG VC Withdraws Court Case Against Babalakin, Others

    Sacked UNILAG VC Withdraws Court Case Against Babalakin, Others

    Embattled Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, Friday withdrew the lawsuit filed at the National Industrial Court to challenge his sacking by the Wale Babalakin-led Governing Council.

    Ogundipe had filed an action at the National Industrial Court in Suit No: NICN/LA/D18/2020 dated August 14, where he joined University of Lagos, Council, Senate, Wale Babalakin, Registrar, and Acting Vice Chancellor appointed by the Council, Theophilus Soyombo, as defendants in the suit.

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    The embattled vice chancellor, in a statement by a member of his legal team, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, said he was no longer going ahead with the legal process which he initiated at the National Industrial Court.

    According to him, “Contrary to the falsehood being peddled by mischief makers, the National Industrial Court has never sat or conduct any proceedings in respect of the court case filed by the Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos, Professor Oluwole Ogundipe.

    “No court proceedings ever took place at all and so no decision or ruling has been rendered by the court.

    Babalakin-led Governing Council sacks UNILAG Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ogundipe

    “Indeed, upon detailed consultation with all stakeholders and his supporters in and outside the university, Professor Ogundipe directed his lawyer’s to file a notice of discontinuance of the suit and this has been done on August 21, 2020.

    “This is to defer to the authority of the President as the Visitor of the university as Professor Ogundipe has enough time to challenge his purported removal.

    “This falsehood is being spread to malign the court and blackmail the judiciary by enemies of the rule of law and due process.

    UNILAG VC spent unapproved N120m, his sack legal –  says Babalakin

    “The general public is therefore advised to discountenance these mindless fabrications as the handiwork of those who are afraid of subjecting their illegal acts to the true test of probity and to be wary of fake news being peddled in place of truth, especially as they relate to deliberate manipulation of court proceedings.

    “There was no time that the court sat to fix any date for the case.”

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • UNILAG VC spent unapproved N120m, his sack legal –  says Babalakin

    UNILAG VC spent unapproved N120m, his sack legal –  says Babalakin

    Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Dr. Wale Babalakin has asserted that the embattled Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe was legally removed by the Governing Council of the institution.

    Dr. Babalakin reiterated the position of the council, which he chairs, on Monday when he was a guest on Channels Television’s breakfast show, Sunrise Daily, monitored by Echotitbits.

    “First, let me repeat that the Council complied with due process in the removal of Professor Toyin Ogundipe.

    “I’ve heard a lot of comments on all media. And these comments ignore a fundamental fact – Ogundipe has not denied any wrongdoing. He has not said that he did not spend N120 million renovating the residence of himself and two of his cronies without mentioning it to anybody. It was discovered. It was not mentioned, it was not prevented and there was no approval. That is patent illegality. And he has not denied it.

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    “In fact, he concealed it until two-and-a-half years after Council came in, when, a (Professor Omoleyinwa) report found out that he had concealed information and had presented what is not a budget as a budget.

    Babalakin maintained Ogundipe’s sack by the University’s Governing Council last week was legal as the VC has not denied any of the allegations leveled against him while he only rejected the decision, claiming the process was not fair and did not follow due process.

    READ ALSO: Babalakin-led Governing Council sacks UNILAG Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ogundipe

    “Ogundipe has not denied that he created something very new in the University – the concept of security votes. Or he continued it – I don’t know when it started. But he paid security votes, which is money that requires no account in the University. He has not denied it.

    “Ogundipe has not denied that he forged documents, in trying to present a candidate for the Director of Works. He was Chairman of the Committee and he was told to collate results. When he collated results, the second became first, first became second, he never denied it. On the floor of the Council – and it’s in the minutes – he did not have any comments about it.

    “Ogundipe has not, till today, been able to present a proper account of the University. Three sets of people have looked at the account; none have said that the accounts represent a fair representation of the University’s financial position.

    “Ogundipe unilaterally sought to appoint a Professor into the University. This is the worst scandal in academia. He sent me a memo that I should approve that the Librarian becomes a professor. I am familiar with University systems. You just don’t become a Professor. You must go through the process and then it comes to the Council for confirmation.”

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    However, last week, the University’s Senate and labour unions kicked against the Ogundipe’s sack by the Babalakin-led Governing Council on the grounds that the Vice-Chancellor’s removal contravened the University’s laid down procedures.

    Also, the alumni association of the University of Lagos on Saturday called on the institution’s council to rescind the sack and follow due process.