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| Protesting Union members |
By Omole Isaac(O'Zik)
On the 13th of December, 2016, the Acting Vice-chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University honored the invitation extended to him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibadan Office, had sent a letter to the Acting Vice-chancellor of the School and the School's Bursar(Mrs Aderonke Akeredolu) in the first week of December, inviting them for quizzing as regards allegations of the mismanagement of over #1bn naira.
The invitation came as a result of the petition sent to EFCC by certain persons claiming that the Acting Vice-chancellor of OAU diverted a sum of #1.4bn meant for Projects to pay workers' allowances and other purposes without approval from the Ministry of education and the institution's governing Council.
The Acting Vice-chancellor and the Bursar of Obafemi Awolowo University while in EFCC premises being interrogated on the allegations levelled against them, Unions on OAU Campus were in front of the premises protesting the invitation of Prof. Elujoba for interrogation.
Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Non-academic Staff union, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, National Association of Academic Technologists, and Students Union were present raising placards as a means of protest against what they refer as the "Wrong interrogation of Prof. ELUJOBA".
In an interview with our correspondent, A member of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, OAU, Mr Abu A. L. Adamu had this to say :
"Before now, the unions(SSANU, NASU) have written to EFCC on double deduction of PenCom, two-step differentials and 15%.These petitions have been forwarded to EFCC severally but was not acted upon by the agency until the last administration who are the perpetrators of the offence left.
The Acting VC who has come to redeem the masses of the University and he set up a task force to investigate all monies that are being owed and this monies were not paid into TSA.
The money the Acting VC used in paying Workers' hazards allowances was discovered in a domicile account operated by the last Vice-chancellor, Bursar and Registrar.
We even have information that there are some hidden accounts somewhere operated by the last administration led by Prof Bamitale Omole... "
SSANU chairman, Mr Oketunde while granting interview with our correspondent had this to say :
We were reliably informed that EFCC summoned the Acting Vice-chancellor, Prof. Elujoba, for questioning and when we got to know about that-we feel it is expedient of us to show our displeasure.
The Acting Vice-chancellor has done nothing wrong as a matter of fact, the money he used to pay staff hazards allowances we learnt was lying fallow somewhere earmarked for nothing.
He has been doing very well and that is why we are here. We will ensure that he is not detained. EFCC's action is a wrong step in the wrong direction. Funny enough, we have forwarded several petitions to them as regards the deduction of pencom, two-step differentials, and 15% and nothing was done..."
The Electoral Commission Chairman of OAU Students Union, Mr Fadele Olusola had this to say :
"We are here for no other reason but to stand by our Acting VC who has been like a messiah to us. First, he de-proscribed our union, renovated hostels, running a smooth academic calendar, paying staff money as at when due, visiting hostels et al. In fact, he has done things that the last administration couldn't do. So, we feel that EFCC is taking a wrong step because we know that our VC has done nothing wrong. We will not leave this place until our VC is released.. "
Some members of the unions Posited and clamored that the last administration led by Bamitale Omole be probed.
We reliably gathered that the Acting Vice-chancellor forwarded letters to the school's Chancellor and Minister of Education before disbursing the said #1.4bn.
At around 9pm,we were reliably informed by our sources that Prof Elujoba has been freed on the grounds of administrative bail.
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