Gabriel Dike
Two weeks after unidentified female student of University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, accused a professor of molesting her in his office, the management of the 56-year-old institution has constituted a panel to investigate the allegation.
Already, the fact-finding committee has requested staff and students to submit memorandum on the allegation. Recalled that unidentified female student on May 23 accused Prof Segun Awonusi of English Department of molesting her in his office and also released three semi-nude pictures of the don, which went viral online prompting public outcry.
In swift reaction, Prof Awonusi, former commissioner in Ogun state and also former Vice Chancellor, Tai Solarin University of Education, Igbesa, denied the allegation and described it as a blackmail because the lady had earlier called to demand N400, 000 or she would make public the nude pictures, which the don said were in his stolen phone.
Statement from the Communication Unit, Corporate Affairs Directorate of UNILAG, disclosed that the university management has set up a fact finding panel to investigate the allegation of sexual harassment involving a lecturer in the university published in various social media platforms.
The statement made available to Saturday Sun entitled: “University of Lagos Fact Finding Panel on the Allegation of Sexual Harassment Involving a Lecturer in the University: Call for Memoranda’’, emphasised that the setting up of the panel is in line with its zero tolerance for such allegations.
It added that the panel has commenced investigation into the allegation and is requesting the members of university community (particularly staff and students) who have useful information on this specific allegation and any other one that could aid its assignment to submit memoranda to the panel.
The fact finding panel has called for the submission of memoranda from staff and student on the allegation to it Secretary c/o Registrar’s office, 5th Floor, Senate Building, University of Lagos.
According to the release, the memoranda should be sealed in an envelopes and submitted from June 11 to June 15, in the Registrar’s office, stating, “confidentiality of responses is assured.’’
The Principal Assistant Registrar, Communication Unit of UNILAG, Mrs. Taiwo Oloyede, when contacted said she does not know when the panel started work and the number of staff that make up the panel.
On the identity of the female student, she said it is part of the work of the panel to unravel who she is and make recommendations to the university management.