LASU Boots Out Two Senior Lecturers Over Sexual Harassment and Corruption

The Lagos State University, LASU, has dismissed two senior academic staff members over allegations of sexual misconduct, financial impropriety, and professional misconduct.

The decision, ratified during the institution’s 143rd Statutory Governing Council meeting held on Friday, followed a formal petition submitted by Taofeek Adekunle, a member of the advocacy group Take It Back Movement. The petition accused the affected lecturers of sexually harassing students and engaging in unethical financial practices.

The lecturers include Prof. Olatunji Tajudeen Fasasi Abanikanda, Dean of the Epe Campus and a senior faculty member in the Department of Agricultural Science, and Khadeejat Kareem-Ibraheem, Coordinator of the Department of Animal Sciences, School of Agriculture, were found guilty following a six-week internal investigation.

In a statement issued by LASU Registrar and Secretary to Council, Emmanuel Fanu, on Thursday, both individuals were found culpable of serious breaches of the university’s code of conduct.

According to the statement, Prof. Abanikanda was dismissed for multiple violations, including subjecting final-year students to inhumane conditions during fieldwork at the department’s farm. It was reported that students were forced to remain on the farm from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. without breaks, food, or shelter, even during severe weather conditions.

The professor was found guilty of sexual harassment of female students, verbal abuse of colleagues and students, and the unauthorised collection of money from members of the university community, all in contravention of the institution’s conduct regulations.

He said, “Dean, School of Agriculture, Epe Campus, Prof. Olatunji Tajudeen Fasasi Abanikannada, was dismissed over multiple allegations, including: 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.

“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. Unauthorised collection of money from staff and students of the School of Agriculture, contrary to university regulations.”

On her part, Kareem-Ibraheem was dismissed for dereliction of duty and gross financial misconduct.

She was accused of violating institutional procedures and failing to remit over N10 million in revenue generated from the sale of farm produce, which was instead deposited into her personal bank account.

Both cases, the statement noted, represented a clear breach of LASU’s 2017 Conditions of Service (as amended) and posed a serious threat to the values and standards the institution upholds.