The management of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State has launched a thorough investigation into an allegation of sexual harassment against two lecturers of the same department in the varsity.
Naija News understands that Dr Desen Mbachaga and another lecturer both in the Theatre and Media Arts Department were accused of sexually harassing different female students of the institution.
The development which was disclosed on Tuesday, June 1 by the Chief Information Officer to the Vice-Chancellor, Mr Foluso Ogunmodede, noted that Mbachaga, an associate professor, was suspended “on the grounds of a prima facie evidence of sexual harassment established against him by a panel set up by the institution’s Faculty of Arts, which investigated the allegation.”
Ogunmodede, in a statement titled, ‘FUOYE suspends lecturer over alleged sexual harassment’ quoted the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Abayomi Fasina, to have “set up a five-member committee to further probe the allegation with a view to getting to the root of the allegation of sexual harassment against the embattled lecturer.”
The statement added that “The VC, who has zero-tolerance for indiscipline and any form of sexual harassment against students of the institution, has consequently approved the suspension of Dr Mbachaga to allow for proper investigation of the matter.
“Besides, the VC has also mandated the Dean, Faculty of Arts, Prof Tajudeen Opoola, to conduct a proper investigation into another allegation of sexual harassment against another lecturer in the same department and submit the report in due time for necessary action.”
According to Ogunmodede, the suspension, which was with immediate effect, would pave the way for the committee to further probe the allegation. He added that the current management of the university will do its best to clean the system of all vices.
The article was originally published on Nigeria News