OAU staff unions protest against EFCC’s detention of ex-Acting VC

The academic and non-academic staff of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, yesterday protested against the arrest and detention of the former Acting Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Anthony Elujoba by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Inscriptions on their placards denounced Elujoba’s detention and called for his immediate and unconditional release. An Osun State High Court sitting in Ede, presided over by Justice David Oladimeji had remanded Elujoba and the university bursar, Mrs. Josephine Akeredolu in EFCC’s custody.

They were arraigned over allegations of corrupt practices and financial impropriety at the university. Elujoba and Akeredolu were arraigned on a seven-count charge of intent to steal money belonging to the institution and conspiracy to defraud the school, among others.

But the university’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) led staff and other workers of the institution to protest against what they described as the duo’s illegal and unwarranted detention.

Chairman, OAU caretaker committee of ASUU, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu said Elujoba approved the payment of N350, 000 to each senior and junior staff following workers’ agitation for the payment of their allowances and the discovery of a floating huge sum of university funds that were kept from the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

The union argued that Elujobi’s arrest and detention was uncalled for, saying that the former Acting Vice Chancellor consulted with necessary authorities before he ordered payment of the workers entitlement.

“This payment and his other financial actions were given covering approval by the Governing Council as empowered. We believe that Professor Elujoba did not embezzle or mismanage any university fund,” he added.