The Kaduna State University
(KASU), has set up a committee to investigate Bala Umar, one of its academic
staff, who was accused of soliciting s3x in exchange for grades.
The university administration,
during a meeting on Wednesday, said it had set up a committee to investigate
allegations made against the lecturer, following a one-man protest against him
by a female graduate of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
The accuser, whose name wasn’t
disclosed, had alleged that Umar, who was dismissed at ABU for sexual misconduct
and later employed by KASU, is not fit to be a lecturer in any institution
across the country.
Abdullahi Ashafa, KASU’s deputy
vice chancellor (DVC), academics, who chaired the meeting, reiterated the
university’s zero tolerance for misconduct among members of staff and stated
that it would mete out disciplinary measures to those found wanting.
“Sometimes in the first week of
October, a lady who was an ex-student of ABU tweeted that a former staff of the
institution who is employed by KASU, had sexually harassed her when he was a
staff at ABU,” he said.
“The vice-chancellor of KASU
quickly formed a committee to investigate the issue, not only to clear its name
but to reassure parents and students who are studying here or intend to study
of their safety.
“KASU is building a reputable
name as a centre of excellence. Such allegations need to be investigated and
cleared. The incident did not occur in KASU. But the way the issue is being
portrayed is like we provided a safe haven for those whose appointments were
terminated elsewhere.
“Umar was appointed in error;
there was no much investigation to ascertain what made him leave ABU at the age
of 54.”
Ashafa disclosed that two
committees were set up; one was to investigate Umar’s case, while the second
was for general investigation on events on campus relating to both academic and
non-academic employees of the institution.
“The second committee is to also
collect testimonies and memoranda from past and current students who are
victims of such misconduct; and who are willing to share their experiences,” he
said.
“The university is interested in
unraveling such incidences that have not come to light; and would take drastic
measures to serve as deterrence to would be offenders.’
“If found guilty of tarnishing
the image of the university, he will be queried, suspended and placed on half
salary, then the reports and other decisions will be tabled before the
university council for final decision.”
Hauwa Evelin-Yusuf of the
sociology department, who chaired the first committee, said that members were
to investigate the appointment of Umar, as well as the reasons he left ABU, and
make recommendations.
“ABU terminated Umar’s
appointment on misconduct bordering on extortion of students in July 2013 and
KASU absorbed him in September 2013,” she said.
“Our findings showed that Umar
should have been employed on contract basis if his services were needed because
he has no PHD and was 54 years at that time.
“We also discovered some
discrepancies in his submission and that of some students that were
interviewed, there were allegations of unethical behaviours and sexual
advances.
“There were no evidences to
substantiate the allegations, though there were students whose names were
mentioned.
“Further investigation should
also be carried in a twist in the case when a student came into the university
vicinity carrying a placard that she was a victim.
“We cannot identify the lady, but
we have her picture and we need to look for her, know who she is and to
ascertain if she is a student of KASU or ABU, we do not have that information.
“This is why we recommend another
committee because this other issue came after our reports have been
concluded.’’
This is coming in the heat of a
BBC documentary exposing randy lecturers at the University of Lagos.
Boniface Igebeneghu and Samuel
Oladipo, two of the lecturers indicted in the documentary, have been suspended
while UNILAG has set up a panel to probe their actions.
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