.. It’s an illegality that can’t stand – VC
TWO representatives of the Nigerian Senate in the Governing Council of the University of Lagos have kicked against the removal of the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe.
The Senators, Bola Oboh and Olukemi Odukoya, in separate statements, on Wednesday, described the process leading to the Council’s action as shameful and unacceptable.
They accused the Pro-Chancellor of the University, Dr. Wale Babalakin, of turning deaf ears to advice on the tenable way of handling the crisis that led to the VC’s removal, saying he disregarded the guidelines already laid down for the removal of office holders.
Oboh said, “Dear Senate members, the University of Lagos’ regulation has been stepped on and ridiculed. Babawale Babalakin, the ProChancellor waited for the tenure of Prof. Chukwu and Prof. Familoni to end, to call an Emergency Council meeting.
“Based on the Dagari report, without allowing the VC defend himself, the ProChancellor called for a vote for the removal of the VC. I (Prof. Oboh), Prof. Odukoya, Prof. Leshi and John Momoh voted against the removal of the VC.
“Six persons (excluding Babalakin) voted for (in support). Babalakin then went ahead to announce the removal of the VC. Dear Senate members, the procedure for removal of persons in office is clear and this was pointed out to Babalakin several times but he turned deaf ears.
“He said he would announce the Ag. Vice Chancellor at 5pm. I have excused myself that I need to report to Senate members the shameful act currently ongoing. Please let us arise to fight this.”
Prof. Olukemi Odukoya said, “It is with great regret that I announce to you that the Pro-Chancellor has had his way in actualising his machinery to remove the Vice Chancellor.
“At today’s 12th August 2020, Emergency Meeting of Council in Abuja, Dr. Babalakin asked the VC and DVC (DS) to leave the meeting and by vote of 6 to 4, announced that the Vice Chancellor had been removed.
“Members, arise, this is unacceptable. We must defend the Management of the University.”
Meanwhile, the embattled VC has said he remains the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, describing his purported removal as an illegality that cannot stand.
He said, “Assuming without conceding that the purported removal is true, the extant provisions of the law have not been complied with.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the University Act states that: If it appears to the Council that there are reasons for believing that the Vice Chancellor… should be removed from his office… on the grounds of misconduct or inability to perform the functions of his office… the Council shall:
a. Give notice of these reasons to the person in question.
b. Make arrangement for a joint committee of the Council and the Senate to investigate the matter where it relates to the Vice Chancellor… and to report on it to the Council.”
The VC therefore asked stakeholders to disregard what he termed “mischievous disinformation about the sitting Vice Chancellor of UNILAG.”
