Sacked LASU-ASUU officials accuse VC, Council of victimisation

Embattled leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Lagos State University (LASU) Chapter dismissed for alleged gross misconduct, unauthorised removal of confidential documents, sales of marks and receipt of financial inducements alongside five others, have described their sack as victimisation by the institution’s management.

They vowed to challenge the action in court, saying no amount of intimidation could silence them from exposing the rot in the system.

The institution’s Governing Council had at the end of its 122nd statutory meeting, dismissed three ASUU officials, including the Secretary, Dr. Tony Dansu, Assistant Secretary, Dr. Adeolu Oyekan and Treasurer, Dr. Kemi Aboderin-Shonibare and five others, over allegations of gross misconduct and for allegedly stealing official documents.

The Council had in 2017 sacked the institution’s ASUU Chairman, Isaac Oyewunmi, and his vice, Adebowale Adeyemi-Suenu.

Mr. Oyewunmi was dismissed for demanding the sum of N50, 000 from students, while Mr. Adeyemi-Suenu was sacked for “unilaterally altering” the results of 12 students already advised to withdraw by Senate.

Both Dansu and Oyekan have been piloting the affairs of the union since the Council dismissed the two officials, two years ago before their sack last Friday.

The report read in part, “Council considered the reports of the Senate Disciplinary Committee, and approved the dismissal of the following: Dr. Henry Olusegun Gbelee of the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Lagos State University College of Medicine, who was investigated on allegation of absence from duty without permission and found culpable. Council noted that his action constitutes serious act of misconduct; hence dismissed with immediate effect from the services of the university.

“Council also directed that he pays back N1, 635,715:50 to the school within two months, being the salaries erroneously paid to him while on six months approved leave of absence.

But, the affected ASUU officials accused the vice chancellor, Prof Olanrewaju Fagboun of masterminding their sack.

They threatened to go to court to challenge the council’s decision, which they described as biased.

They insisted that the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act empowers them to assess any document, irrespective of the status or position of the person concerned.