OAU Sex For Marks Saga: Senate Calls For Probe As Varsity Investigates Allegation

By Faith Okerinmodun, Ile-Ife

The Nigeria senate at the early hours of Thursday has reacted and call for probe into the sex scandal which is rocking the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife.

Prof Richard Akindele

CityMirrorNews recalls that one Professor Richard Akindele of the Department of Accounting of the university had been accused of demanding five round of sex from an Unknown female student who failed his course before he could pass her.

The senate at its sitting discussed the leaked audio between Prof Akindele Richard and the unknown caller who was later identified as Enitan.

Speaking at the senate meeting, the Vice Chairman Committee of Women Affairs, Senator Stella Oduah has said the conversation must not be swept under the rug.

In her words, ” the university management should do well to investigate the issue and deal decisively with the accused if guilty”

“Female students in our different campuses should be encouraged to speak up if they are been facing victimisation like this so that mechanisms to guide against it might be put in place” she said.

In a congress held by the Academic Staff Union of Universities which was presided over  by the branch chairman, Dr Niyi Summonu, he said” if it is established that the alleged victimisation is true,  then the perpetrator is not qualified to be part of the academic environment”

“We are supposed to mould the lives of our students both males and females and not to mar their lives” he added.

However, the Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede has assured that the professor alleged to have committed the offence would not go unpunished if fund guilty

In a statement issued by the VC on Wednesday, the authorities had already started investigation into the allegations and the committee is expected to furnish the management with reports within a week.

The statement reads: “The attention of the authorities of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife has been drawn to an audio recording, now trending on the social media, of a telephone conversation ostensibly between one Professor Akindele and a female student of the University. The recording suggests that the lecturer was demanding sex in return for grade which clearly amounts to sexually harassing the lady.

“Since the matter came to our notice, the University has begun the process of identifying the characters involves in this apparent breach of its regulations, the Code of Conduct for the University Community and the Anti-sexual Harassment policy, in full compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and procedures of the University. To this end, the University has set up a high-powered committee to investigate the allegation and submit its report within one week. Anyone found culpable will be dealt with decisively.

“I wish to assure the general public that Obafemi Awolowo University has zero tolerance for sexual harassment. The University considers sexual harassment as a serious offence contrary to its Code of Conduct for the University Community and against the Anti-sexual Harassment Policy of the University. It is totally and morally reprehensible, and the University will never condone such act by any staff or student.

“Once again, I wish to reiterate that no one found culpable of this serious misconduct of sexual harassment will go unpunished.”