President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday set up a visitation panel to investigate the sacking of the vice chancellor of the University of Lagos Oluwatoyin Ogundipe.
The president directed the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council of the University of Lagos, Dr Babalakin and Ogundipe to recuse themselves from official duties pending the outcome of the Special Visitation Panel.
Buhari’s directive was disclosed late Friday by the Director, Press and public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Ben Bem Goong.
The panel, which is chaired by Tukur Sa’ad, former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, has Victor Onuoha, Ikenna Oyindo, Ekanem Braide, Adamu Usman, and Jimoh Bankole as members.
Expected to submit its report within two weeks, the seven-man panel is to review the report of the council sub-committe on review of expenditure of the university since and make appropriate recommendation after given those indicted an opportunity to themselves. It is also expected to examine steps taken by the council leading to the removal of Ogundipe in order to determine whether due process was followed in accordance to the stipulated universities act and whether fair hearing was adhered to.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), had earlier in the week urged Buhari to immediately constitute a special visitation panel to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the events that led to Ogundipe’s removal.
Speaking at a press conference ASUU National President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi said all persons found culpable in what it described as the illegal removal of Ogundipe should be made to face the wrath of the law.
