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By Gabriel Dike
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has faulted the approval of the Governing Council of Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, for the return of the former vice chancellor, Olanrewaju Fagbohun, as a Professor of Law.
The union, in a statement signed by the Zonal Coordinator, Lagos Zone, Adelaja Odukoya, said 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).
The management of LASU in a statement announced the return of Fagbohun from sabbatical leave, and against the protocol, was received by the governing council Chairman, David Sunmonu, and the Vice Chancellor, Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello.
“Return of Fagbohun to the Faculty of Law did not follow any of the laid down provisions of LASU on appointments and promotions, thus raising the question of legality and propriety for both the institution and the beneficiary of this dubious process.”
The union said it took note of a statement by the authorities of LASU, announcing the return of its immediate past vice chancellor, Fagbohun, as a Professor of Law, “after accumulated leave,” and that until his appointment as the vice chancellor in 2016, he was a staff of NIALS.
The zonal coordinator recalled that the NEC of ASUU declared Fagbohun an enemy of the union, saying: “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 could 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 rules.
“The effective date was put at May 7, 2014. By the time he became vice chancellor in 2016, the effective date of that promotion was altered in a letter signed by the then registrar to read October 1, 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 vice chancellor and staff of the NIALS on leave of absence, armed with the claim to professorial experience conferred on him by a conniving registrar,” he said.
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.
The LASU Vice Chancellor, Olatunji-Bello, did not respond to text message on the circumstances surrounding the return of Fagbohun as a staff of the university.
The Governing Council Chairman, Sunmoni, despite asking Daily Sun to send him text message, failed to answer questions sent to him regarding the return of the former vice chancellor from a prolonged sabbatical, and if it was the council under him that approved the leave.
