The Senate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Thursday rejected the appointment of a new acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution.
The Senate during a meeting on Thursday rejected the removal of Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as Vice-Chancellor of the institution by the Governing Council.
The Governing Council of UNILAG led by Wale Babalakin, Pro-Chancellor on Wednesday, August 12, sacked Professor Ogundipe, accusing him of gross misconduct, financial recklessness and abuse of office.
Following the controversial removal of Prof Ogundipe, the Council appointed Prof. Theophilus Soyombo as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution.
Soyombo’s appointment was announced in a statement released by the Registrar and Secretary to the council, Oladejo Azeez, hours after Ogundipe released a statement insisting he is still the Vice-Chancellor of the institution.
Azeez in the statement released, said Ogundipe was duly removed from office.
“My attention has been drawn to a document circulating under the hand and signature of the former Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, FAS. The letter purports to deny his removal by the Governing Council of University at its Emergency Meeting of Wednesday, August 12, 2020.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I am in my capacity as Registrar and Secretary to Council the only custodian of the minutes of Council and the authorising officer on behalf of Council to issue official statements pertaining to all Council Affairs.
“Members of the public are hereby advised to totally disregard the statement attributed to the said former Vice Chancellor. The position remains that he was lawfully removed by the Governing Council at a meeting fully attended by all Council members.
“I also wish to use the opportunity to inform members of the public that Council at the said meeting duly appointed Professor Theophilus Omololu Soyombo of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos as Vice Chancellor of the University in an Acting Capacity.”
Ogundipe dared the Council and was seen going to his office today’s morning. Watch the video below.
The 88-member Senate of University led by Prof Chioma Ago, a former Dean of the Faculty of Law, said the removal of Ogundipe was against UNILAG’s regulation.
The group stated that the Council removed Ogundipe without giving him the opportunity to defend himself.
A member, who attended the senate meeting, told SaharaReporters that “Part of the condition for the removal of a Vice-Chancellor is that a joint committee of the Senate and Governing Council must sit and investigate with three representatives from each side but the Senate was never represented, the Senate was never consulted, the Senate never knew the allegations against their member.
“The removal of Prof Ogundipe did not follow the Act establishing the university. He was not given fair hearing and the opportunity to defend himself.
“The Senate, therefore, rejects the removal of Prof Ogundipe and the appointment of an Acting VC.”
