UNILAG crisis: EFCC asked to probe Oluwatoyin Ogundipe

LAGOS, Nigeria – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been asked to probe the sacked Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, over alleged looting and misappropriation of funds.

In a letter to the Commission dated Friday, August 21, the petitioners stated that stakeholders of UNILAG and members of the public, whose taxes were used to run the uni­versity, were interested in the probe of the sacked VC.

The petition signed by Olorunfemi Adeyeye, on behalf of the Coalition of University of Lagos Student Unionists, read, “We hereby petition the Eco­nomic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to probe the sacked Vice Chancellor of the school, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, over his involvement (as seen in his defence) and in­dictment in several allegations of looting and misappropria­tion of funds, while in office as the vice-chancellor.

“It is already in public domain, reports of a sub-committee, headed by Dr. Saminu Dagari, a rep­resentative of the Federal Government on the Council of the University of Lagos.

“This Committee was set up after contracted auditors have looked into the account books of the University and have re­portedly found the ‘hands of Esau, but the voice of Jacob.”

“Relying on reports al­ready published by reputable news outfits, like Premium­Times and The Guardian, we find it disturbing that the anti-corruption agency is yet to take up this matter for the sake of national interest and in line with the anti-corrup­tion mantra of the President Buhari-led administration.

“However, as concerned cit­izens and direct victims of the ongoing crisis, we have taken it upon ourselves to reach out; to remind the EFCC of one of its statutory roles which is to keep an eagle eye on the financial running of public institutions by public servants.

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“Members of the Council or Senate cannot be left with these serious allegations of financial recklessness as seen in those reports. They are mere rap­porteurs to the extent of their reports and powers.

“In view of the aforemen­tioned, it is pertinent that Nigerians are not kept in the dark as regards the running of public trust such as the University of Lagos. UNILAG is not Bi-Courtney, neither is it a parish of The Redeemed Christian Church of God. Parents, whose children are being forced to sleep in bed-bug infested halls of residence, deserve to know what’s going on.

“Lecturers who sweat in overpopulated classrooms due to absence of functioning public address systems need to know. The non-academ­ic staffers at the university should for no reason be kept in the dark about the financial standing of the university.

“The belief of the international community in the transparency culture of the management of affairs in the public sector needs to be strengthened,” the letter read.