University of Lagos crisis: Buhari suspends Babalakin, Ogundipe, sets up visitation panel

The Pro-Chancellor of University of Lagos(UNILAG) and the embattled Vice Chancellor, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe have been ordered to step aside, following the imbroligo in the institution.

Penpushing reports that, President Mohammed Buhari gave the order, having also announced a special visitation panel to investigate the crisis and expected to submit its report within two weeks.

The Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Education, Ben Goong, confirmed this development in a statement, adding that the President .also directed the Senate of the university to convene to nominate an acting vice-chancellor.

Penpushing further reports that, the statement said, the interim head is expected to act until the government reaches a resolution, and the  panel include Tukur Sa’ad as chairman, Victor Onuoha, Ikenna Oyindo, Ekanem Braide, Adamu K. Usman, Jimoh Bankole and Grace Ekanem

The controversy in the institution followed the sack of the ‘incumbent vice-chancellor, Olawatoyin Ogundipe, by the Wale Babalaking led governing council, which degenerated to  leadership tussle.

Penpushing also reports that the council had accused Ogundipe of mismanagement of funds, a basis for which he was sacked and Theophilus Soyombo appointed acting vice chancellor,but the embattled Vice Chancellor displeased about the sack filed a case at the Lagos Industrial Court urging the court to nullify and set aside his purported removal.

The counsel to the ‘vice chancellor’, Ebunolu Adegboruwa, however, on Friday disclosed  that the case had been withdrawn, following detailed consultation with all stakeholders and his supporters in and outside the university.

“Indeed, upon detailed consultation with all stakeholders and his supporters in and outside the University, Professor Ogundipe directed his lawyers to file a notice of discontinuance of the suit and this has been done on August 21, 2020. This is to defer to the authority of the president as the visitor of the University as Professor Ogundipe has enough time to challenge his purported removal”, he said