There was confusion at the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, yesterday, when the suspended Rector of the institution, Dr. Tajudeen Odetayo, returned to take charge of the school’s administration.

Uneasy calm was noticed within the school premises when the Acting Rector appointed by the state government after Odetayo’s suspension also arrived in the office a few minutes after.

The state government had suspended Odetayo through a letter signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Kehinde Jimoh, on July 24, 2023, for alleged gross misappropriation of funds and abuse of office.

However, dissatisfied, Odetayo approached the Lagos Division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria with an ex-parte motion challenging what he described as his “illegal suspension.”

In the motion, Odetayo had prayed for an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants/respondents (Governor Ademola Adeleke and others) from giving effect to the letter of suspension dated July 11, 2023 and letter of query dated August 1, 2023 given to him.

In his ruling on the motion, Justice Opeloye Ogunbowale granted an interim order restraining Governor Adeleke and 14 others from appointing a rector for the polytechnic.

The judge, who also ordered Adeleke and other respondents to stay further action on the institution, pending hearing of the motion on notice slated for October 10, 2023, had directed that a hearing notice be issued to all respondents before the next adjourned date. Odetayo, apparently acting upon the court order, resumed back to office yesterday amid mixed feelings from workers.

While some workers jubilated upon sighting him on the campus around 8:00 a.m., others were shocked to have two rectors overseeing the school.

Meanwhile, some workers, who confided with The Guardian, claimed the development had caused uneasy calm in the institution and alleged that Odetayo went into the rector’s office to dislodge Alabi, who was said to be on his way to the office when Odetayo took over.

The sources said academic activities were disrupted owing to the development. When contacted, the spokesperson of the institution, Tope Abiola, confirmed the situation and called for calm.

“The acting rector appeals for peace and students should be calm. He said the state government is looking into the situation and will get a stay of execution in court,” Abiola said in an interview.