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Here is a direct follow up of All you need to know about University of Lagos UNILAG Vice-chancellors’ Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe sack.
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Council appoints Prof Soyombo UNILAG’s acting VC
The University of Lagos governing council appointed Prof Theophilus Soyombo as the Acting Vice Chancellor of the institution on Thursday.
A statement by the Registrar/Secretary to the Council, Oladejo Azeez, said the Council decided on the appointment at a meeting that held in the early hours of Thursday in Abuja.
We await briefs on UNILAG VC sack – FG
The Federal Ministry of Education (FMoE) said it has not been briefed on the purported removal of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe from office by Governing Council of the university.
Spokesperson of the FMoE, Ben Goong, said this in a statement in Abuja.
The statement noted that while the ministry awaits proper briefing from the university authorities, it must be reaffirmed that council has the power to hire and fire.
The statement however said that due process must be followed in doing so.
It reads: “My dear colleagues, the Federal Ministry of Education wishes to state that it is yet to be briefed on the developments at the University of Lagos regarding the purported removal of the VC.
“While the Ministry awaits for the proper briefing from the university authorities, it is important to reaffirm that council has the power to hire and fire but that due process must be followed in doing so.”
Ogundipe’s ‘removal’ from office was announced in a statement by the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Mr. Oladejo Azeez, in a statement titled: Notice to the General Public on the removal of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos.
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The council based the decision on gross misconduct, financial recklessness among others.
But the embattled Vice Chancellor insisted he remained in office, stating his purported removal was a figment of imagination.
I remain UNILAG VC, says Ogundipe
Embattled Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe has described his removal from office as false.
He said he remains vice chancellor of the institution.
In a statement following the Registrar’s announcement of the Governing Council’s decision to remove him, Ogundipe said the removal was a figment of the Registrar’s imagination.
The statement titled: “Notice to the General Public on the Removal of the Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos by Oladejo Azeez, Esq” reads:
“The attention of the University of Lagos (Unilag) management has been drawn to the ‘Notice to the General Public on the Removal of the Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos’; dated August 12, 2020 and signed by Oladejo Azeez, Esq, Registrar and Secretary to Council, stating that the current Vice Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, FAS has been removed from office with immediate effect.
“This is untrue and a figment of his imagination. Therefore, stakeholders of UNILAG and the general public are advised to disregard this mischievous disinformation about the sitting Vice Chancellor of Unilag, contained in that notice. Professor Ogundipe still remains UNILAG’s Vice Chancellor.”
UNILAG Council confirms VC’s removal
The Governing Council of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has confirmed removal of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe from office.
A statement by the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Mr. Oladejo Azeez titled: Notice to the General Public on the removal of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos” based the decision on gross misconduct, financial recklessness among others.
It reads: “The general public is hereby notified that at an emergency meeting held on Wednesday 12 August 2020 and in accordance with the statutory power vested in it by law, the Governing Council of the University of Lagos removed Prof. Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, FAS from office as Vice Chancellor of the University with immediate effect.
“The decision was based on the Council’s investigation of serious acts of wrongdoing, gross misconduct, financial recklessness, and abuse of office against Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe.”
UNILAG Council/Management crisis deepens
The rift between the University of Lagos (UNILAG) administration and Governing Council deepened on Wednesday with reports the Council had allegedly voted to remove the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, from office.
The Nation learnt the Council took the decision during its meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.
The Council Chair, Dr. Wale Babalakin, moved the meeting to Abuja following ASUU’s declaration he should not visit the institution’s campus as he had been declared a persona non grata.
According to a note shared among members of the university community and attributed to those at the meeting, Babalakin said he would announce an Acting VC by 5pm on Wednesday.
The note credited to Prof Olukemi Odukoya reads: “Dear Senate members, 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 has been removed.
“Members, arise, this is unacceptable. We must defend the Management of the University.”
Another Senate representative on the Council, Prof. Bola Oboh wrote: “Dear Senate members, the University of Lagos regulation has been stepped on and ridiculed.
“Babawale Babalakin, the Pro-Chancellor 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 Pro-Chancellor 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. 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 will 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.”
