By Gabriel Dike, Lagos

Five years after he was unjustly removed from office, the Governing Council of Lagos State University (LASU) has reinstated Prof Babatunde Solagberu as Provost of the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) in line with the judgement of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN).

The council reinstated Prof Solaberu to serve out the remaining three months of his tenure as the 7th substantive provost of LASUCOM. The Professor of Surgery resumed his position on Monday, September 26.

Prof Solagberu in company of the former acting Provost, Prof Mobolaji Oludara, paid a visit to LASU Vice Chancellor, Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, expressed his delight to be back and assured that his commitment to elevate the status of the college in line with the vision of the VC remains unchanged.

He was congratulated by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Sir David Sunmoni, who was also at the meeting, and the VC, Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello.

Meanwhile, Prof Solagberu, earlier on Monday made a return to the campus of College of Medicine, Ikeja, amidst cheers and jubilation from the staff, students and members of the college community.

On arrival, the provost was welcomed by the outgoing acting Provost, Prof Oludara, amidst applause and cheers by representatives of the Students Union, who had come to congratulate the retuning Professor and Orthopaedic surgeon to his post.

Prof Oludara handed over power to Solagberu in the presence of teaching and non-teaching after staff a Special Executive Council meeting to introduce the members of the executive and top management staff in the college and also brief the returning provost on the affairs of LASUCOM since his absence.

“This is a historic event we are witnessing today that shall mark the beginning of a new era in our College and on behalf of the College, I want to congratulate Prof Solagberu on his return which deserves celebration while describing the handing ceremony as a necessity to honour someone who has been an extraordinary example and given essence and sustenance to leadership in the institution,” Oludara said.

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“You have assisted greatly to affirm to all the financial autonomy of this college, the sacredness of a mandate especially that of an elected Provost and we are happy to welcome you back to your seat to conclude the good work you started in 2016 and prayed that Prof Solagberu’s return would be even more fruitful.”

Prof Solagberu, addressing the college during remarks as the returning provost, praised the efforts of the outgoing acting provost for his contribution towards ensuring his return.

“Our legacy is what will live on after we have left this world and protecting that legacy is of utmost importance when going through the hurdles of life” he said while also praising the efforts of individuals who played major roles in ensuring his victory and also praised the students for their constant support during his period of absence.

“I cannot work and complete this tenure alone without your assistance and I want us to work together to achieve something tangible before my tenure comes to an end” he proclaimed while charging the heads of departments and units to work together with him in order to achieve the vision of the college in becoming the best medial school in the continent,” Solagberu noted.

The NICN sitting in Lagos in August declared as illegal the interdiction and removal of Prof Solagberu from office as provost of LASUCOM by the former vice chancellor, Prof Lanre Fagbohun, and gave the university September 22 to reinstate him.

The Fagbohun administration interdicted Solagberu in 2017 and barred him from entering the university for four years. Again, the VC contradicted the law by paying him a full salary after six months without revoking the interdiction.

Solagberu was interdicted five times under Fagbohun’s administration, the first was a directive from the VC but was told he lacks such powers, the second one was a directive by the former Pro-Chancellor, Chairman of Governing Council, Prof Adebayo Ninalowo, third interdiction was by council chairman on behalf of governing council, which was faulted, the fourth one was written by the registrar under expired council tenure and the fifth interdiction through the council.

Delivering judgment, Justice PB Bassi, granted the reliefs sought by the claimant, Prof Solagberu, which include his restatement as Provost of LASUCOM till the expiration period of 24 months, payment of all outstanding emoluments, allowances, and other perquisites of office, preserve the rights and privilege of the claimant as an employee of the second defendant, order preserving the rights and privileges of the claimant.