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By Gabriel Dike
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has faulted the purported approval of the Governing Council of Lagos State University (LASU),Ojo, for the return of the former Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun as a Professor of Law.
ASUU in a statement signed by the Zonal Coordinator, Lagos Zone, Prof. Adelaja Odukoya, said Prof. Fagbohun as at the time of the council’s approval was not a staff of LASU but of the National Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS).
LASU management in a statement on Monday announced the return of Fagbohun from Sabbatical leave and against protocol he was received by the governing council Chairman, Sir. David Sunmonu and the Vice Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello.
“The claimed return of “Professor” Fagbohun to the Faculty of Law is not known to have followed any of the laid down provisions of LASU on appointments and
promotions, thus raising yet again the question of legality and propriety for both the institution and the beneficiary of this dubious process.”
ASUU said it took note of a statement by the authorities of LASU, announcing the return
of its immediate past VC, Olanrewaju Fagbohun, as a Professor of Law,
“after accumulated leave” and that until his appointment as VC in 2016, he was a staff of the National Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.
The zonal coordinator recalled that the NEC of ASUU declared Fagbohun an enemy of the union, stating,”from available records, he joined the institute in 2011, after several unsuccessful efforts to become a Professor in LASU.”
The union observed that by convention, practice and regulations, people who served as appointees on leave of absence in an institution are required to return to their parent institution at the end of their tenure, from where they can then properly exit.
ASUU recalled that in May 2014, years after leaving LASU, the then governing council promoted Fagbohun to the rank of a
Professor of Public Law, a non-existent department at the time, in breach of all its
own rules.
“The effective date was put at May 7, 2014. By the time he became VC in 2016, the effective date of that promotion was altered in a letter signed by the then Registrar to read October 1st, 2008; a date he was yet to obtain PhD, which according to LASU guidelines for promotion was a basic requirement for elevation to the rank of professor.
“In all of it, Fagbohun arrived at LASU as VC as a staff of the NIALS on leave of absence, armed with the claim to professorial experience conferred on him by a conniving Registrar,” he explained.
The union also expressed disappointment that the irregular and illegal
appointment/resumption of Fagbohun is being done in a way that makes a mockery of due process and applicable regulations in LASU.
He added: “We had thought that the days of wanton disregard and disrespect for the laws ended with the regime of Fagbohun himself. That assumption now appears mistaken.
Worse still, is the symbolic seal of approval of the top echelons of the university,
with the public posture of Fagbohun and the chairman of the governing council.”
LASU VC, Prof. Olatunji-Bello did not respond to text message on the circumstances surrounding the return of Fagbohun as a staff of the university.
Meanwhile, the Governing Council chairman, Sir David Sunmoni despite asking our Correspondent to send him text message, failed to answer questions sent to him as regards the return of the former VC from a prolonged Sabbatical and if it was the council under him that approved the leave.
