UNILAG Crisis: Buhari Issues Step Aside Order To Babalakin, Ogundipe
Following the series of reports and news on the ongoing crisis rocking the University of Lagos (UniLag), President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the pro-chancellor and the embattled vice-chancellor of UniLag to step aside to allow the newly constituted special panel investigate the crisis rocking the university.
According to the information given by the publicist of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Ben Goong, the special panel set up by President Buhari has two weeks to submit its report.
Also, the president directed the Senate of the school to convene to nominate an acting vice-chancellor from among its members, who will act until the government reaches a resolution.
The leadership tussle that erupted following the controversial sacking of the ‘incumbent vice-chancellor’ of the institution, Olawatoyin Ogundipe, necessitated the intervention of the president.
The council led by pro-chancellor Wale Babalakin had accused Mr Ogundipe of mismanagement of funds, a basis for which he was sacked and Theophilus Soyombo appointed acting vice chancellor.
Ogundipe who disagreed with the development filed a case at the Lagos Industrial Court asking the court to nullify and set aside his purported removal. Though his counsel, Ebunolu Adegboruwa confirmed that the case had been withdrawn.
“Indeed, upon detailed consultation with all stakeholders and his supporters in and outside the University, Professor Ogundipe directed his lawyers to file a notice of discontinuance of the suit and this has been done on August 21, 2020,” he said.
“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.”
The president, who is the visitor of the university, has therefore appointed a seven-member committee to investigate the controversies in the school.
Members of the panel include Tukur Sa’ad as chairman, Victor Onuoha, Ikenna Oyindo, Ekanem Braide, Adamu K. Usman, Jimoh Bankole and Grace Ekanem.
