In another series of abuse of power, Dr Taiwo Adekolawole Edaogbogun unilaterally handed Barrister Matthew Omolade an interdiction letter over an allegation of plagiarism.
InsightMedia has reported how Dr Adekolawole-Edaogbogun gave his wife, Mr Olukemi Adekolawole “triple promotion” with no recourse to the committee and the rules.
When contacted, Omolade said the Rector has not afforded him the report of the plagiarism test conducted on any of his papers. He said the alleged paper was also not part of the papers he submitted for promotion. He added that the Rector was just after him for standing against his misrule.
Barrister Omolade vowed to seek redress in court if the interdiction letter is not withdrawn in seven days.
Our correspondent found out that under the Federal Polytechnic Act of 1979, it is only the Governing Council of the Polytechnic that has the power to punish, terminate and/or issue any letter of interdiction after any erring officer of the institution after thorough investigation and the report of such hearing deliberated upon at the council meeting.
When asked to react to this, Adekolawole Edaogbogun admitted that it’s only the governing council that has power to interdict, suspend or dismiss any erring staff. He also alluded to the fact that the governing council has not sat to examine the report submitted to the management.
“Barrister Omolade committed a serious offence of plagiarism and I acted according to the report. It’s true that the governing council is the only body empowered to dismiss lecturers and they have been informed.
“I only interdicted him from coming into the Polytechnic community pending when the governing council will sit on his matter.” He said.
“Plagiarism is called intellectual property theft and must not be condoned for any reason. Imagine how it will affect the image of our institution? So, he remains interdicted”.
However, another document sighted by our correspondent, the Rector has been found guilty of commiting plagiarism to the tune of 60% on some of his papers.
One of it titled “A New Technique for Infrared Remote Sensing Of Solar Induced Florescence and Reflectance from Vegetable Covers” has been found to be 60% plagiarized.
While another one titled “Electrical Potential in Plants Detached Stalks” was found to be 34% plagiarized.
