The authority of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State has slammed an indefinite suspension on one of its lecturers who allegedly took undue advantage of a female student in exchange for a pass mark.
Engr. Peter Otubu of the Department of Electrical Engineering was purportedly caught pants down with one of his students, Miss Okosun Ivie Judith, a 400-level engineering student in her hostel.
The embattled lecturer and Judith had faced the Senate disciplinary committee.
In addition, Judith was detained for two days by the police at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) while acting on the petition of the lecturer who accused the female student of kidnapping him.
Judith has equally been suspended by the university authority which accused her of violating the university’s matriculation oath.
Engr. Otubu, a Catholic Knight of Saint Mulumba (KSM), was publicly stripped naked in the resident of his-to-be victim on July 17 while allegedly attempting to have sex with Judith, his student, for a pass mark in her carry over course.
Confirming the suspension of the duo to us, Mr Chris Adamaigbon, the university’s public relations officer, said the authority was not ready to make public pronouncement on the issue pending the outcome of the Senate Disciplinary Committee’s report.
“The moment the Senate committee ascertains the truth and cross-examine it, the university has no option but make it public,” he said.
We gathered that Prof. Patrick Oaikhinan, former Dean, Department of Engineering and Technology, has equally been summoned by the Senate to explain his role over legal representation currently embarked upon by Judith.
Speaking with our correspondent while threatening to institute a suit against the university in the event that the Senate goes ahead to sanction his client, a lawyer, Mr. Olayiwola Afolabi, acting on behalf of Judith, faulted the process of the inquiry into the case.
He said against the principle of fair hearing, his client was denied the opportunity to call her witnesses.
“Where is fair hearing in the matter? Fair hearing in our jurisprudent is sacrosanct. So, you cannot wish away fair hearing. In any adjudicating body, if the principle of fair hearing is sacrificed on the altar of expediency, then the whole exercise is a nullity. If at the end of the day, they rely on that report to sanction my client, definitely we will head for the court and ask for damages that might financially cripple the university,” the lawyer threatened.
Meanwhile, the lady at the centre of the sex scandal, Judith, earlier spoke to us on the latest development on the matter.
She said: “The latest development on the sex scandal is that the lecturer transferred the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Benin. As a result, some policemen came and arrested me, Juliet, Osas and Esther as kidnappers. The Investigating Police Officer (IPO) in charge of the case, Inspector Festus Aigese, was taking sides with the lecturer before the Commissioner of Police intervened in the matter.
“When we got to the CP’s office, he asked the lecturer to explain what happened between the two of us. At that stage, Engr. Otubu was confused such that he didn’t know what to tell the CP. In turn, he asked every one of us to narrate what happened to him and we did. So after our explanation the CP now told the lecturer that he is supposed to be the accused person. He even told the lecturer that if after their investigation, he found out we are not kidnappers that he is going to be charged to court for giving false information. Thereafter, the CP directed the IPO to release us.
“After some days, my lawyer went to the SCID to see the IPO but to his uttermost surprise, the police officer in charge of the case was still taking sides, saying it is a common thing for lecturers to be sleeping with girls; that I should have done it (have sex) with the man quietly.
“Because of the disposition of the IPO to the case, my lawyer, Barrister Olayiwola Afolabi, wrote a petition to several people and institutions, including the Inspector General of Police (IGP), wife of the president, Mrs Patience Jonathan, Minister of Women Affairs, National Universities Commission (NUC), Human Rights Commission, International Federation of Women Lawyers, Women Rights
Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), wife of the governor of Edo State, Mrs Clara Oshiomhole, Commissioner for Women Affairs in Edo State and the ASUU chairman, AAU, Ekpoma.
“The school authority is almost through with their meeting and we are waiting to see what will be their judgment. Already, the man said he is a member of the Senate in the school and that he has been told that the authority is going to expel me from the university. The man is saying that he was kidnapped whereas the apple he brought to my house, the condom, his boxer, shirt and the cheque he signed are with the police in SCID as exhibits.”
Story by ISESELE EZEKIEL
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