The Nation Newspaper

Tag: FUNAAB

  • FUNAAB Radio coming soon

    With the delivery of broadcast and transmission equipment purchased from the United Kingdom, the FUNAAB (Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta) Radio 89.5 FM will soon join 27 other universities operating campus radio stations.

    Coordinator, FUNAAB Radio, Mr. Ayo Arowojolu, said the station had begun transmitting online.

    Arowojolu said the equipment bought from the Clyde Broadcast Products Limited, Glasgow, came at the right time when the university management had constituted the FUNAAB Radio Management Board, with Prof Victor Olowe of the Agricultural Media, Research and Extension Centre (AMREC) as the Alternate Chairman.

    Other members of the Board  are Arowojolu, Prof Kolawole Adebayo, Directorate of Grants Management; Prof Helen Bodunde, Communication and General Studies Department; Prof Eniola Fabusoro, Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development; Prof Biodun Badmus, Department of Physics; Mrs. Emi’ Alawode, Directorate of Public Relations; Mrs. Atinuke Adiyeloja, Bursary Department; and Ms. Adeola Oke of the Registry Unit as secretary.

    Olowe received the equipment on arrival.

    While inspecting the equipment and the station, the Ag Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ololade Enikuomehin, promised that Management would leave no stone unturned towards a speedy take-off of the station.

    He said the reason for the station was to enhance stakeholders and campus communication with the use of technology. He listed the stakeholders to include, the ‘young at heart’, intellectuals, urbane professionals, community peasants, children and the court of public opinion.

    At take-off, he said the radio would be transmitting between 5.30am to 11.00pm on weekdays and include weekend packages as the station grows.

     

  • Sack of FUNAAB, FUTA VCs faulted

    The Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) yesterday faulted the Federal Government on the suspension of the vice chancellors of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Prof. Olusola Oyewole and Prof. Adebiyi Daramola.

    Their suspension was conveyed in a May 8 letter signed by the acting Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Hussaini Adamu, over allegations of corruption.

    AVCNU, in a statement yesterday in Abuja by its Secretary-General, Prof. Michael Faborode, said it was surprised that Minister of Education Adamu Adamu would go ahead to suspend both VCs when the governing councils of universities had been inaugurated by him.

    It hailed the governing councils of both universities for upholding the sacred tenets of the university system.

    The statement said: “It was, therefore, surprising to AVCNU that the honourable minister would proceed to suspend some VCs just when new councils were being inaugurated for the universities.

    “The resolution of lingering issues should just have been left in the hands of the new councils, who would have been admonished to, as a matter of urgency, assume their mandate, like the new French President, and bring their institutions to pursue that which will edify and endear them to the nation.

    “It is against this background that the actions of the councils of FUNAAB and FUTA in upholding the sacred tenets of the university system, nay its autonomy, is commendable and is thus applauded by the AVCNU.

    “What the councils of FUNAAB and FUTA have done is to, without any iota of hesitation, halt the descent of the institutions to unbelievable anarchy, signal a new order of proactive engagement, built on deep understanding of what a university should be and hence laid the basis for sustainable peace in contrast to the theatre of the absurd and confusion that had engulfed the institutions in the recent past, that seemed to last eternity.

    “By their prompt and decisive intervention, they have restored the glory of the Nigerian university system in the comity of global universities. AVCNU salutes their courage in the face of heinous intimidation and primitive blackmail, clothed in the garb of critical radicalism.

    “They have proved that they are equal to the task with which they are saddled. If we and our universities must emerge from our current level of obscurity in the global peer ranking of universities, then we and our proprietors (federal and state governments, private individuals and faith based organisations who own the universities) must ponder on the imperatives of attaining the lofty attributes of world-class universities.

    “It is the contention of AVCNU that the time has come for us to get Nigerian universities back on track, and we plead with the university unions not to unwittingly destroy the fabric of our universities, which indeed is their means of livelihood. “

  • FUNAAB: Senator Ogunlewe loses bid to quash charges

    FUNAAB: Senator Ogunlewe loses bid to quash charges

    Former Works and Housing Minister and Pro-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAAB, Senator Adesewe Ogunlewe, standing trial alongside the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Oyewole, and Mr. Moses Olusola Ilesanmi, before Justice O.C Majekodunmi of the Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta lost his bid to quash the charges proffered against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

    Counsel to Ogunlewe, the first accused in the matter, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN),  leading other counsel  had approached the court earlier seeking to quash the charges against the first accused, Senator Ogunlewe, on the grounds that the charges are bad for misjoinder of offences,  misjoinder of offenders and for duplicity; that the proof of evidence produced by the complainant does not link the first accused with the aforesaid counts nor does it disclose any prima facie against the first accused person; and that the consent of the Attorney General of Ogun State/Law officer was not obtained as required by law before filing the charge.

    At the resumed hearing of the matter, after the adoption of the written addresses made by parties, Justice Majekodunmi delivered a ruling on the application before the court in favour of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    All the grounds raised by first accused defence Counsel Team were dismissed.

    The prosecution Counsel, Dr. Ben Ubi thereafter sought for commencement of trial.

    He informed the court that there were three witnesses in court ready to testify but all the counsel to the three accused person sought for an adjournment on the ground that they were just been served additional proof of evidence and would need time to study the documents.

    The court conceded to their application and adjourned the case to March 8 and 9, 2017 for the commencement of trial.

    It would be recalled that the trio of Senator Adesewe Ogunlewe, former Works and Housing Minister and Pro-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAB Prof. Olusola Oyewole, the Vice Chancellor and Mr. Moses Olusola Ilesanmi were arraigned on Friday, November 25, 2016 on an 18 -count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, obtaining money by false pretence and abuse of office.

  • Court adjourns trial of FUNAAB VC, others to February 9

    Justice Olatokunbo Majekodumi of an Abeokuta High Court on Friday adjourned the trial of the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, (FUNAAB), Prof. Olusola Oyewole, till February 9.

    Oyewole, the institution’s Pro-Chancellor, Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe, and the Bursar, Moses Ilesanmi, are standing trial on an 18 count-charge of abuse of office, stealing and fraud to the tune of N409 million, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    Majekodumi adjourned the matter, saying that the interest of justice demands time to get its facts to determine if the court has the jurisdiction to entertain the case or not.

    Counsel to Ogunlewe, Mr. Wale Adesokan, had brought an application seeking to quash his client’s name from the case, saying the court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the case.

    Adesokan said counts 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8 deal with stealing, while counts 12, 13, 14 and 15deal with abuse of office.

    He argued that that count 1 did not provide details of what they alleged Ogunlewe stole.

    He said, “The count does not disclose the amount of money which they said the accused conspired to steal.

    “Also counts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 alleged that the defendant stole and fraudulently converted certain sum of money.”

     

  • FUNAAB don wins ECOWAS grant

    Prof Adebayo Shittu of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, College of Agricultural Management and Rural Development (COLAMRUD) of the Federal University of Agricultural Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has won an international grant to the tune of Euros 118,956 from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    Shittu won the grant for a proposal titled, “Incentivising Adoption of Climatic Smart Practices in Cereals Production in Nigeria: Sociocultural and Economic Diagnosis” prepared by his team for the “Innovative Projects for Food and Nutrition Security in West Africa,” sponsored by the Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (RAAF) Support Programme for Food and Nutrition Security in West Africa (PASANAO), and the French Development Agency (AFD).

    Shittu’s team will carry out the project, which ends in October, in collaboration with the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, Niger State.

    He said the nation-wide study would evaluate the socio-economic impacts of adopting Climate Smart Practices (CSPs) in maize and rice production, Identify appropriate mechanisms by which wide-spread adoption of CSPs might be incentivised to stop or reverse land degradation, evaluate the restoration of ecosystem health, enhance livelihood outcomes and build resilience to climate change using the examples of rice and maize farmers in Nigeria.

    Other members of Shittu’s research team are: Prof Oluwakemi Fapojuwo (Department of Agricultural Administration); Dr. Bolarinwa Senjobi (Soil Science and Land Management); Dr. Thomas Fabunmi (Plant Physiology and Crop Production); Dr. Dare Akerele (Agricultural Extension and Farm Management); and Dr. Rahman Sanusi (also from AEFM). Others are Dr Abiodun Obayelu and Dr. Elizabeth Oluwalana, (Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre, AMREC).

    Collaborating scientists from NCRI are: Dr. Saliu Tiamiyu, Miss Uduma Ugalahi and Mr. Jude Eze.

  • FUNAAB refunds N4.7m to students

    FUNAAB refunds N4.7m to students

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has forced the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB)  to refund N4,760,000 to 952  undergraduates.

    The refund was the illegal charges levied the students for ICT training.

    According to a statement by its spokesperson, Rasheedat Adunni Okoduwa, the commission burst the exploitation after a complaint by one of the students.

    The statement said: “Nine hundred and fifty two  FUNAAB undergraduates who alleged exploitation by the school have been refunded their money.

    “The refund which was as a result of the intervention of the ICPC was facilitated by a petition by one of the students.

    “The student alleged that undergraduates were made to pay additional N5,000 as fee for ICT training, despite paying N2,500 earlier for the same training.

    “The Commission, after bringing the issue to the attention of the management, directed them to resolve it within a stipulated period.

    “Following that directive, the affected students were requested by the school to provide evidence of payment to the accountant to facilitate a refund.

    “Random telephone calls to some of the students confirmed the refund.”

  • ICPC forces FUNAAB to refund N4.7m to students

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has forced the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, to refund N4, 760,000 to 952 fresh undergraduate students of the institution.

    The refund was for the illegal extra charges levied the students for ICT training.

    According to a statement issued by the Spokesperson of ICPC, Rasheedat Adunni Okoduwa, the commission was able to burst the exploitation after receiving a complaint from one of the students.

    The statement said: “952 fresh undergraduates of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, who alleged exploitation by the school authority to the tune of N4,760,000 have been refunded their money.

    “The refund which was as a result of the intervention of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) was facilitated by a petition by one of the students of the school.

    “The student alleged that fresh undergraduates were made to pay additional N5,000 as fee for ICT Training despite paying N2,500 earlier for the same training.

    “Upon receipt of the petition, the operatives of the Commission swung into action and investigations revealed that indeed the students were levied twice for the same training.

    “The Commission, after bringing the issue to the attention of the management of the university, directed them to resolve it within a stipulated period.

    “Following that directive, the affected students were requested by the school to provide evidence of payment of the said N5, 000 to the college accountants to facilitate a refund.

    “Random telephone calls to some of the students by the Commission confirmed the refund.”

     

     

  • FUNAAB recalls sacked workers

    The Governing Council of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has reversed its decision on the sack of 23 members of staff of the university.

    The decision was taken at its 91st Meeting held at the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abuja.

    The workers, all members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), were sacked last month.

    In a communiqué signed by the Acting Registrar and Secretary to Council, Mr. Obafemi Oginni, the Council directed the affected workers to forward a Letter of Appeal to the Secretary, Council Committee on Investigation of the Lingering Industrial Unrest and Tension, Acting Registrar’s Office between last Friday and Monday.

    The Council Committee on Investigation of the Lingering Industrial Unrest and Tension was constituted at the same meeting to receive appeals from aggrieved members of staff; investigate and identify the remote and immediate causes of the unrest and tension, as well as identify the institutional and structural factors responsible for the unrest.

    Others are: to identify any other predisposing factors to the unrest; to recommend immediate measures for rectifying the current situation; to recommend lasting measures and strategies for conflict-resolution in the university; to make any other recommendations, which may be germane to the maintenance of order and good governance in the university; to ascertain the culpability of persons and groups in the crisis and to propose appropriate sanctions and deterrence for such persons and groups so identified.

    The council directed all members of staff on strike to resume work and avoid any conduct that could disturb the smooth running of the university.  It also urged all parties to withdraw all civil cases in the courts to allow the Committee function properly.

    It noted that Prof Oyewole, remains the Vice-Chancellor of the university.

     

  • Update: FUNAAB pro chancellor has case to answer – EFCC

    Update: FUNAAB pro chancellor has case to answer – EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday told a state High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun state, that the Pro – Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB), Abeokuta, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, has a case to answer before the court.

    The EFCC, who put forward this position while opposing Ogunlewe’s application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit, said the FUNAAB pro chancellor and other accused persons have a case to answer.

    Ogunlewe, the institution’s Vice – Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Oyewole and the university Bursar, Moses Ilesanmi, were last Month  brought by the EFCC before Justice O.O. Majekodunmi on 18 –count charge of conspiracy, stealing and  fraudulent conversion of money belonging to FUNAAB.

    The charges putting included putting amount of money totaling N800m in a fixed deposit account with a commercial bank without following due process and paying the interest accrued from such fixed account into the personal account of private individuals.

    The trio had since pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    At the hearing of the case on Monday, Ogunlewe filed an application, asking the court to quash the case against him.

    He argued that the court lacks the competence to entertain the case.

    Ogunlewe’s counsel, Wale Adesokan, who filed the application, told the court that the application was filed to terminate the trial, and prayed the court to end the trial.

    But lead counsel to EFCC, Mr. Ben Ubi, opposed the application, saying Ogunlewe and others have case to answer.

    “We are opposing the application. They have case to answer and the accused persons should face the trial rather than dancing round. We have acted strictly based on law and we have not offended the law,” Ubi said.

     

     

  • Counsel battle to secure FUNAAB Pro –Chancellor, VC bail

    Counsel battle to secure FUNAAB Pro –Chancellor, VC bail

    Counsel for former Works Minister and Pro – Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB), Abeokuta, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, and the Vice – Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Olusola Oyewole, are engaging in an intense legal battle at state High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, to secure bail for duo before end of Friday.

    Ogunlewe and Prof. Olusola who were brought to court in an air conditioned fitted Urvan bus marked BWR 633 AT by over half a dozen operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), were arraigned before Justice O.O. Majekodunmi on- 18 count charge.

    They were docked at 9:12am and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Also docked alongside Ogunlewe and Oyewole is the university Bursar, Mr. Moses Ilesanmi.

    Part of the 18 -count charge preferred against the trio include putting N400m in a fixed deposit account with a commercial bank without following due process, and  paying the interest accruing from it into the personal account of an individual.

    When the bail application was first announced, there was confusion about which counsel should appear for the first accused – Ogunlewe.

    Son of the ex-minister, Mr. M. Ogunlewe, who announced appearance for his father, did not move the application for the bail, saying a lead counsel who should do that was yet to arrive the court.