Following the sacking of the University of Lagos Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the Federal Government has directed him and the chairman of its Governing Council, Dr Wale Babalakin (SAN), to step aside.
Accordingly, the government said they should both step aside, pending the outcome of the Special Visitation Panel set up by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The government’s position was contained in a statement issued on Friday night by the Director, Press and Public Relations, in the Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Bem Goong.
The statement also directed the Senate of the university to “nominate an acting vice-chancellor from amongst its members for confirmation by the Governing Council.”
The statement was entitled: “FG directs Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Governing Council of the University of Lagos, Dr B. O. Babalakin and the Vice Chancellor, Prof Oluwatoyin T. O. Ogundipe to recuse themselves from official duties, pending the outcome of the Special Visitation Panel set up by the President.”
The members of the panel are Prof Tukur Sa’ad (Chairman); Mr Victor Onuoha; Prof Ikenna Onyido; Prof Ekanem Braide; Prof Adamu Usman; Chief Jimoh Bankole and Mrs Grace Ekanem, who would serve as the secretary.
The panel’s terms of reference include “to determine whether the process (if any) leading to the appointment of the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university was consistent with the provisions of the enabling Act,” and make recommendations, including sanctions, for all those found culpable.
The panel, which is to be inaugurated on Wednesday in Abuja, was given two weeks to submit its report.
The nominated members, according to the statement, shall “oversee the affairs of the university, pending government’s decision on the report of the special visitation panel.
