Dr Wale Babalakin SAN (left) and Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe
- Sets up Special Visitation Panel (SVP)
- Sacks Prof. Theophilus Soyombo as VC appointed by Babalakin
- Directs UNILAG Senate to meet and appoint acting VC
- Wants SVP’s report in two weeks
Having watched the show of shame and power tussle at the leadership of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), the federal government yesterday directed the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council, UNILAG, Dr. Wale Babalakin and the sacked Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe to step aside from their official duties pending the outcome of a Special Visitation Panel (SVP) set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to resolve the crisis rocking the institution.
The President, as visitor to the University also removed Prof. Theophilus Soyombo, the Acting Vice Chancellor appointed by Babalakin and tasked the panel to come up with workable solutions and peaceful resolutions. The spokesman of the Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Goong, who made this known in a press statement, said the President also directed that the panel set up yesterday submits its findings and reports within two weeks.
The UNILAG SVP has Prof. Tukur Sa’ad, as Chairman; and the other members include Victor Onuoha; Prof. Ikenna Oyindo; Prof. Ekanem Braide; Prof. Adamu K. Usman; Chief Jimoh Bankole; and Grace Ekanem, who is the Secretary. The President also directed that the Senate of the University should meet immediately to appoint an Acting Vice Chancellor.
The establishment of the SVP was announced on the day the embattled Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ogundipe withdrew from the National Industrial Court where he had gone to challenge his controversial removal by the Governing Council of the university. The University of Lagos has been embroiled in crisis, following disagreement between the Chairman of the Governing Council/Pro-Chancellor and the Vice Chancellor, on the administration of the institution, which led to the purported removal of the Vice Chancellor last week.
Obviously determined to resolve the issues, the President, as visitor to the University of Lagos, constituted the SVP to look into the crisis and come up with workable solution and peaceful resolution. Other decisions taken by the President are that: “The Pro-Chancellor, Dr Wale Babalakin, SAN and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, have been suspended from office as they are both to recuse themselves from performing their functions in office during the period of the visitation. The Senate is to convene urgently and appoint an Acting Vice-Chancellor for the university.”
Prof. Ogundipe was removed last week at a meeting of the Governing Council at the National Universities Commission (NUC) in Abuja, chaired by Babalakin, and attended by 12 council members, the VC included, majority of whom voted for Ogundipe’s removal. The Council appointed Prof. Theophilus Soyombo, as acting Vice Chancellor.
