The Chairman of the Council of the University of Lagos, Dr Wale Babalakin, SAN on Friday declared that due process was strictly followed in the sack of the institution’s vice chancellor, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe.
Babalakin who spoke to newsmen at the Ikeja Airport in Lagos accused the embattled vice chancellor of exceeding his approval powers on a number of occasions, and therefore asked the relevant agencies of government to immediately commence a detailed investigation of Ogundipe’s activities at the university.
He noted that as a product of law, he would not engage in things that will trample the law, insisting that “due process was followed. When the Council set up a committee to look into the finances of the university since we came on board, the report indicted a number of people including Ogundipe.
‘He wrote a reply and even spoke for over one hour defending himself. The law of the university is clear on how some officers can be removed from office. During Wednesday’s meeting, the issue was put to vote and we can do open ballot or secret ballot as we used to do on contentious issues.
“The people not only voted, but they added their comments. I also not only read out the votes, but the comments put in by everyone. I can tell you that nobody faulted what was read out as not what they wrote.”
On financial mismanagement, Babalakin said “the financial guidelines of the University of Lagos give the Vice-Chancellor the power to spend not more than N2.5 million in some instances without the approval of the Governing Council and anything higher must be brought to the Council for approval.
“However, Ogundipe spent N49 million to renovate his official quarters without anybody approving that.
“He also approved N41 million for the Bursar to renovate his official quarters too. That is unacceptable. He must be investigated. We need to do that for us to start building the university. I can tell you that when we probed the account of the university, it was in tatters,” he said.
He also described union leaders insisting on the retention of the sacked vice chancellor as those benefiting the sacked helmsman, adding that once an opinion poll is conducted in the university, it would be discovered that Ogundipe does not enjoy the support of majority of people in the university.
Meanwhile, the newly appointment Acting Vice chancellor, Professor Theophilus Omotunde Soyombo says he has assumed duties in line with the contents of the letter sent to him.
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