By Gabriel Dike
The Lagos State University (LASU) Governing Council has approved the dismissal of two senior lecturers over misconduct. The lecturers were accused of sexual harassment, financial impropriety and inhumane treatment of students
The two dismissed lecturers are the Dean, School of Agriculture, Epe Campus, Prof. Olatunji Tajudeen Fasasi Abanikannada and Dr Khadeejah Olufunke Kareem-Ibraheem, Lecturer I/Coordinator, Department of Animal Sciences, School of Agriculture, Epe Campus
In a statement, LASU Registrar, Mr. Emmanuel Fanu, said the decision was taken at its 143rd statutory meeting held on Thursday, July 3rd, 2025.
Fanu disclosed that the council approved the dismissal of two academic members of staff, following allegations of serious misconduct bordering on inhumane treatment of students, sexual harassment, and financial impropriety.
According to him, the council considered the report of the Joint Council-Senate Disciplinary Committee and upheld its recommendations in respect of Prof. Abanikannada and Dr. Kareem-Ibraheem.
Abanikannada was accused of subjecting 400 Level students of the School of Agriculture to inhumane treatment by keeping them on the farm from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m without break, food, and water even during torrential rainfall that lasted between 4:45 p.m. to after 6:00 p.m., an action prejudicial to the security of the university.
He was also accused of sexual harassment of female students of the same school, subjecting staff members and students to emotional and physical trauma using threats, curses, derogatory utterances, and profane expletives on them, an act unbecoming of a public officer of the university.
The dismissed professor was further accused of unauthorised collection of money from staff and students of the School of Agriculture, contrary to university regulations.
On Dr kareem-Ibraheem, the LASU Registrar said she was dismissed for dereliction of duty as Coordinator, Department of Animal Sciences, by failing to adhere to the university’s approved guidelines, procedures and curriculum for Farm Practical Year (FPY), thereby exposing the students to hard labour on the farm.
Fanu also revealed that she failed to remit to the university coffers, proceeds from sale of farm produce (amounting to over ₦10.6 million), which was kept in her personal bank account, as against the university guidelines.
The Registrar added these acts by the two senior lecturers were tantamount to “serious misconduct” and in contravention of the University’s Conditions of Service for Senior Staff (2017, as amended).
Fanu disclosed that both dismissals take effect from Thursday, July 3, 2025.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the University’s management to maintaining the integrity of academic and administrative standards.
Recall that in 2016, Professor Abanikannada was demoted to Senior Lecture for misconduct but was reinstated back to his position by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN).