The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, has given approval for the reinstatement of the suspended Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe.
The President disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, through the Ministry of Education’s Director of Press and Public Relation, Ben-Bem Goong .
The statement reads: “ The President, Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the report of the Special Visitation Panel to the University of Lagos.
The highlight of the findings and recommendations approved by the President are as follows- the removal of Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe as the Vice-Chancellor did not follow due process.
“The Vice-Chancellor was not granted an opportunity to defend himself on the allegations upon which his removal was based. He should accordingly be reinstated.
“All allegations made against the Vice-Chancellor and the management of the University before and after the Constitution of the Special Visitation Panel should be referred to regular Visitation Panel for a thorough investigation and necessary recommendations.
“The process adopted by the Council in the appointment of Professor Omololu Soyombo as Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University was inconsistent with the provisions of the Law relating to the appointment of an Acting Vice-Chancellor.
“The Governing Council should be dissolved.
“Mr. President after careful review of the report has approved all the recommendations of the Panel.
“Accordingly, Professor Olwatoyin Ogundipe is hereby reinstated as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos.
“The Governing Council of the University of Lagos chaired by Dr. B.O. Babalakin is hereby dissolved. Mr. President hopes these steps will bring peace, stability, focus, and direction to the University.”
It would be recalled that, President Muhammadu Buhari on August 22, 2020, ordered the Chairman, Governing Council, Wale Babalakin, and the Vice-Chancellor, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe to step aside, in order for the Visitation Panel which was set up by the President, and led by media mogul, John Momoh carried out an investigation to what led to the imbroglio that rocked the university.
