The management of Lagos State University (LASU) has denied that the dismissal of 17 members of staff (Academic and Non-academic), was manipulative or political.
The affected staff included Dr. Isaac Akinloye Oyewunmi and Dr. Adebowale Adeyemi-Suenu, chairman and vice chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU-LASU chapter.
LASU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Lanre Fagbohun, in a press briefing held yesterday in the school premises, said that due process was followed in the sack of the erring staff.
His words: “Since the decision of the Governing Council was made public, the following issues have been raised particularly in relation to Dr. Isaac Akinloye Oyewunmi and Dr. Adebowale Adeyemi-Suenu that the Decision of Council did not follow Due Process, was manipulated, and was for Political Reasons.
“The above assertions are not correct. The University acted strictly in conformity with her rules and regulations. It is instructive to note that the Fact-Finding Panel called the Petitioner and four (4) other witnesses. Dr. Oyewunmi also appeared before the Panel.
“From all indications and oral testimonies from the petitioners Abiodun Davies Alabi aka Abiodun Adebola Jolaosho [the Petitioner], Aderonke BADEMOSI, Abosede Bukola, and Emmanuel ZINSU, all of the 2003 Modular year set of Political Education programme it was asserted that there was indeed a demand for the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000) by Dr. Oyewunmi.
“On his part, Adeyemi-Suenu was dismissed for misconduct relating to alteration of marks, following information from students that some withdrawn students of the Department of History and International Studies had returned to the University through the assistance of some members of staff. Altered results did not reflect a zero (0) grade point to minimum pass grade of 1.0 or 2.0 in maximum of two (2) courses only as was decided by Departmental Board of Examiners for final year students and stragglers, but, some were changed from zero (0) and other lower grades to 3, 4 and 5 points in one (1) to eight (8) courses.
“Although, during his oral testimony before the committee, Dr. Adeyemi-Suenu defended the charges of result upgrade of the twelve (12) withdrawn students by referring to them as mere recommendations for presentation to the Departmental Board that was mistakenly given to the Computer Operator due to his haste to meet a deadline for a trip.
“It is therefore on the above that the governing council based on the reports of the fact finding committee that these lecturers were dismissed,” he added.
