Professor Johnbull mocks culture of impunity in higher institutions

Unlimited humour, exaggerated lifestyle by young ladies and decadence in higher institutions took the center stage on Tuesday night as the third episode of Glo-sponsored comedy TV series, Professor Johnbull came on air on NTA Network, NTA International and Startimes.

Titled “Sorting Things,” the episode, which was laced with humour at every stage, treated the issue of exaggerated lifestyle of young ladies in the society as a sub-plot to the main issue of bribery in higher institutions where students offer bribes in cash and sometimes in kind to their lecturers in order to attract more marks in examinations
It all started in front of Professor Johnbull’s house where Abednego (Mc4God) and Jumoke (Bidemi Kosoko) were engaged in a noisy conversation that attracted the curiosity of the erudite Professor who had to advise them to speak in low tones, as they are in a “Government Reservation Area.”

Jumoke was later allowed into the premises of the erudite professor, pretending to visit Elizabeth (Queen Nwokoye), the daughter of the Professor Johnbull; to learn about her aerobic routine but her real intention was actually to show off her new gown. This led to disagreement with Caro (Mercy Johnson-Okojie) Professor’s housemaid who mocked Janet’s flamboyant style.

The disagreement was re-enacted later when Janet met Elizabeth at a lesson session with Caro and the housemaid could not answer her questions correctly. Caro was so pathetic that she could not recite a simple mathematical times table. Jumoke rebuked her and this led to a wrestling bout. Professor Johnbull later intervened by settling the disagreement and eventually appointed Jumoke as Caro’s lesson teacher.

Sorting, the title of the episode and another word for ‘bribe-for-marks’ later surfaced in the episode when Caro who was finding her studies difficult met Flash Boy (Stephen Odimgba), a classmate of Elizabeth who had sorted Professor Gozie, (Chinwetalu Agwu) with N20, 000 bribe in order to pass the course handled by Professor Gozie.

Having been fully briefed about sorting, Caro also decided to sort her lesson teacher, Jumoke, in order to pass well and give Professor Johnbull a good impression about her academic performance.

This act backfired as Jumoke reported the sorting issue between her and Caro to Professor Johnbull who, together with his daughter, Elizabeth condemned the act vehemently. While Professor Johnbull described sorting as arrant truancy and contextual plagiarism, his equally bombastic daughter, Elizabeth said, “it is mass bribery and attitudinal corruption.”

The erudite professor described sorting as a product of lazy and materialistic society, adding that it is one of the factors responsible for low standard of education in the country.

He subsequently lambasted Flash Boy (Stephen Odimgba) for introducing Caro to the sorting business and poked fun at Olaniyi, the Nkwobi expert, for going into illicit relationship with his house maid, Caro.

Apart from these, different humorous scenes were witnessed in the episode, including when Jumoke who had earlier bragged at Professor’s house about her esoteric standards, had to change from ”I want to use the rest room” to “I want to use the toilet.” Olaniyi also tried to make some impression when he promised to send his limousine to pick Caro who was stranded in the market, only for the driver to show up with a rickety tricycle.

On his part, Professor Gozie threatened that “any student of my course who does not pay N20, 000 to my private ministry will not pass my course” when he was negotiating “Sorting” with Flash Boy.

The repeat episode of Professor Johnbull was aired on NTA Network, NTA International on DSTV Channel 251 and Startimes at 8.30pm on Friday.

Professor Johnbull is a star-studded television comedy-drama series exclusively produced by Globacom featuring top Nollywood stars including Mama G, Helen Paul Mercy, Johnson-Okogie and Ime Bishop Okon. Others are Queen Nwokoye, Bovi, Chiwetalu Agu, and O.C. Ukeje. It was produced by Tchidi Chikere and supported by Richard Mofe-Damijo and Chief Chika Okpala also known as Chief Zebudaya.