Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr Wale Babalakin on Friday maintained that the sacked Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe was given fair hearing by the Governing Council before his removal.
He also insisted that due process was followed in the VC’s removal.
The removal of Ogundipe as UNILAG VC on Wednesday by the Governing Council led by Babalakin has drawn criticism from the workers unions in the school as well as the committee of vice chancellors who have thrown their weight behind the embattled VC.
Though the Council has appointed an acting VC for the school, in the person of Prof Omololu Soyombo, members of the unions have vowed not to recognise any person as the school’s VC whether in acting or substantive capacity.
Some union members at the University had marched with Ogundipe on Thursday, protesting his sack as Vice-Chancellor, saying it did not follow due process.
The University’s Senate, after an emergency meeting on Thursday, also rejected the Vice-Chancellor’s sack and passed vote-of-no confidence on the Governing Council saying due process was not followed in the sacking of the VC.
However, at the Friday press briefing in Lagos, Babalakin insisted that the VC had been removed.
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He also insisted that “There is no crisis in UNILAG,” adding, “What you have is a vocal minority benefiting extensively from the resources of the university.”
He accused Ogundipe of looting the University’s resources.
“The Senate did not have a meeting, because it could not have had one,” he said. “The authority to call a meeting rests with the Vice-Chancellor and, as at the time he called the meeting, he was no longer Vice-Chancellor.
“Most people don’t know what the powers of the Council are vis-à-vis the removal of the Vice-Chancellor.
“I assure you that there was full compliance with the law in the removal of the Vice-Chancellor.”
According to him, members of the Council removed Ogundipe because they “want the best for the university.”
“Series of attempts were made to reconcile, but the plain truth is that Professor Ogundipe has been looting the University, and looting it recklessly,” he said. “That’s the plain truth; we shouldn’t hide it,” he added.
Babalakin went further to allege that Ogundipe had been indicted for forging documents in recruitment processes.