OOU staff unions dismiss allegation of fraud against VC

STAFF unions in the state-owned Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, have dismissed allegation of fraud against the institution’s vice chancellor, Prof Sabur Adesanya.

Just as it advised aggrieved members of the alumni association of the institution who raised the allegation to allow the law to take its course since the matter is already before a competent court.

The unions, under the umbrella of Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and Non Academic Staff Union Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), in a communiqué jointly signed by its chairmen, Taiwo Egberongbe, Augustine Adebiyi and Rasaki John respectively, said the union would not allow the aggrieved members to drag the name of the institution into mud.

Tribune online recalled that some members of the Alumni had petitioned the  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) alleging misappropriation of the association’s N100m kept in the coffers of the university by Adesanya.

The unions said the allegation was meant to confuse the public and put the university in bad light, insisting that there was no money kept by the Alumni with the University management in any form.

“We are aware that these factional leaders and the so called BOT members had sued the University on this matter and the case is before a court of competent junsdiction in Ogun State, why then is the same people sending petition to EFCC and going to press on the same matter.

“Are they jittery of an impending failure or are just looking for cheap popularity? We cannot fold our arms and allow some lazy individuals to rubbish the hard earned new reputation of our dear University as rebuilt by Professor Saburi Adesanya in the last five years.

“For emphasis Professor Adesanya was invited to rescue this University when some people had wrecked the institution image and potentials. We make bold to say that he has performed beyond expectation in reviving this institution.

“If in the twilight of his administration some people parading themselves under the name of an unknown BOT of Alumni association, we smell a rat.

“We hope no group of persons is allowing itself to be used by people who are heavily jealous of his (V-C) towering heights of achievements and successes where they failed and to do a hatchet man’s job to rubbish the efforts of the VC,” they stated.