OAU says lecturer in alleged scandal is not a criminal

In the midst of the

While answering questions about the whereabouts of the professor, who has allegedly gone into hiding, the Public Relations Officer, PRO of the institution, Abiodun Olanrewaju on Thursday, April 12, 2018, said that he didn't know if he has gone into hiding because he is not a criminal.

Talking about the whereabout of the embattled lecturer, Olanrewaju said Professor Akindele just finished his sabbatical when the audio conversation leaked. He, however, added that the lecturer still has some accumulated leave but only the HOD of his department could tell if the lecturer has been coming to office or not.

“For now, the prof. has finished his sabbatical, but he has some accumulated leave. It is only his head of department that can say categorically if he has been coming to the office or not.

“I don’t know if he has gone into hiding because he is not a criminal. We are still investigating the allegations levelled against him. He has not been convicted and he is not before any court of competent jurisdiction''.

To verify if the lecturer has been coming to office, Pulse reached out to the HOD of the Accounting Department identified as Professor Oshotimeyin but effort to get a response proved abortive as he did not answer our calls.

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OAU looking for the student in the viral audio conversation with Prof Akindele

The university spokesperson also that the school management is still making effort to identify the student who had the conversation with the professor in the viral audio which leaked on Monday, April 9, 2018.

“If any student comes out to tell the university that certain things happened to them, the university will investigate it. As a university, we don’t rely on speculations, neither do we dwell on rumours. But if we receive a formal complaint from anybody, either student or worker, that has to do with harassment – whether sexual, political, social or religious – we will take it up. But there must be a complaint before we know what to do.

“The girl that recorded the audio, we are still working on her identity and when she comes forward, we will know. But it won’t be in the interest of members of the panel to pre-empt that. However, they have started sitting on the issue” he said.

Since the audio clip went viral, Professor Akindele has shut down his phone line and also deleted his Facebook account.