Did the immediate past governing council of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) squander N1.5billion? Yes, says the council chairman, Prof Tunde Samuel, who claims to have inherited an empty treasury. No, says his predecessor Prince Abiodun Ogunleye who is asking Samuel for details of the ‘mismanagement’,. The council has since sacked some top officials of the Ogunleye administration over the matter. ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA reports
For a college of education with infrastructure challenge, the money at stake is huge. About N1.5 billion was said to have been squandered by the immediate past governing council of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED). The council chairman, Prof Tunde Samuel, is locked in a war of words with his predecessor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, also a former deputy governor of the state, over the cash.
Some workers have gone with the crisis.
Early this month, some principal officers in the immediate past administration were sacked for their involvement in the ‘deal’.
Ogunleye has challenged Samuel to prove his allegations. According to him, the figure being bandied in the media by the Council is not true. But Samuel dismisses his claim, saying the councul’s investigation was through, asking the aggrieved to go to court.
Those sacked are the immediate past provost and registrar. Bashorun Wasiu Olalekan and Bola Disu. Others are the immediate past bursar, Mr Fatai Ipaye, current registrar, Coker Charles Olumuyiwa and bursar Oyewolu Sunday Babatunde.
Although a statement signed by the Deputy Registrar (Information) Odunayo Adebowale, described the step as a “part of restructuring” of the institution, The Nation can reveal that it may not be unconnected with the ‘scandal’.
Some of the affected officers, Disu and Coker and a clerical officer Adekunle Ahmed Arinle, are geering up for a legal battle with the management.
They claimed that the process leading to their termination was skewed in favour of those accusing them of mismanagement. Their accusers, they asked, were also members of the panel that investigated them.
Last April during the probe, Samuel released the report of an audit by Lagos State University (LASU) Audit Unit. The affected officers are challenging the veracity of the report.
Three weeks ago, Arinle petitioned the government, accusing the council of bias and pleading for his reinstatement. Arinle, who gave his petition to reporters, claimed that some workers who committed more grievous offences such as rape, plagiarism, going on sabbatical and collecting salaries in more than two institutions, among others, were either pardoned or given a slap on the wrist because they are “the untouchables”.
But Samuel punctured Arinle’s claims. He told our reporter how the council took its decision.
On the rape and plagiarism allegation, Samuel recalled that the matter had been settled before the Ogunleye-led council was dissolved in June, last year, adding that his council, which took over last October ratified the recommendation of its predecessor.
But, Ogunleye dismissed Samuel’s defence. He said there was need to correct some misconceptions to preserve his reputation.
The College of Education Academic Staff (COEASU) and Senior Staff Union in Colleges of Education, Nigeria (SUCCOEN) of AOCOED which spearheaded the case, have pitched their tent with the Council.
COEASU Chairman Michael Avosetinyen said the principal officers’ punishment was light, compared to what they did.
On the punishment for rape, he said management’s action smacked of incompetence, and that it was “premeditated”.
He said: “Rape is a criminal matter and the union will not condone criminality. “We understand the lady (victim) in question claimed to have been raped about 8pm that day and she later made a complaint to the college security unit; but why was she not taken to the school clinic or any hospital around for examination immediately after the incident? So, if management is saying there was an allegation of rape, that simply means they are incompetent.
“As a union, we are being lenient with management, otherwise we would have actually taken up this case because it is premeditated against our member; but we felt let sleeping dogs lie.
Avosentiyen also debunked the rumours that certain workers were being treated as untouchables at the expense of others.
“As far as I know, COEASU is one and all the talk about factionalisation is not true,” he added
“My role as chairman is to protect our members’ interest.’’
Bashorun, in a phone interview, said the time was not ripe for him to talk.
“I know a lot of people have been saying a lot of things (about mismanagement) and asking me to talk. I have made consultations and I realised it is not yet the best time for me yet.
“Under my tenure, and for the first time in the history of this institution, AOCOED was ranked the best college of education nationwide. The record is still there. No one can contest it. At the appropriate time, the truth will come out. I have so much to say but when the time comes, I will.”
The college’s Provost Dr Ladele Aina, told our reporter on phone that the allegations were true, adding that investigation began before her appointment last January.
“The case occurred and investigation started last year. I assumed the leadership of this college in January,” she said in response to a question on why management did not immediately conduct a medical test on the said rape victim.
“The case was referred to Council’s Disciplinary Committee, which deliberated on the matter and had made its recommendations,” the provost said.
For Arinle, there is no going back on his seeking redress in court.
“Initially before council commenced investigation, we objected to the inclusion of the chairmen of COEASU and SUCCOEN on the committee because they cannot be the accuser and the judge at the same time. Besides, the manner the investigation ran shows that they (council) were acting out a script by some superior hands,” he said.
