Gbenro Adesina
Sequel to the removal of Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), by the Institution’s governing council on August 12 2020, Theophilus Omololu Soyombo of the Department of Sociology, has being appointed as acting vice-chancellor.
The University Registrar, Oladejo Azeez, in a statement also confirmed that Ogundipe was lawfully removed as vice-chancellor at an emergency meeting held on Wednesday, August 12, 2020.
The statement titled “RE: NOTICE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON THE REMOVAL
OF THE VICE CHANCELLOR, UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS, AKOKA-LAGOS” reads in part:
“My attention has been drawn to a document circulating under the hand and Signature of the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, FAS. The letter purports to deny his removal by the Governing Council of University at its Emergency Meeting of Wednesday, August 12, 2020
“For the avoidance of doubt, I am, in my capacity as Registrar and Secretary to Council, the only custodian of the minutes of Council and the authorizing officer on behalf of Council to issue official statements pertaining to all Council Affairs.
“Members of the public are hereby advised to totally disregard the statement attributed to the said former Vice-Chancellor.
“The position remains that he was lawfully removed by the Governing Council at a meeting fully attended by all council members.
“I also wish to use the opportunity to inform members of the public that Council at the said meeting duly appointed Professor Theophilus Omalolu Soyombo of The Faculty of Social Sciences, the University of Lagos as Vice-Chancellor of the University in an acting capacity.”
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Goong, reacting to the University of Lagos (Unilag) crisis, has said that the Council has the power to “hire and fire” anybody.
Goong, however, said that “due process” must be followed before removing anybody.
“While the Ministry awaits for the proper briefing from the university authorities, it is important to reaffirm that council has the power to hire and fire but that due process must be followed in doing so,” he said.
