UNILAG, suspended student, in war of words

THE University of Lagos at the weekend reacted to a series of allegations levelled against the institution by Mr Olorunfemi Adeyeye, a 400-Level student of the Department of Building, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, who was rusticated in August over some controversial comments he posted on Facebook.

Adeyeye, had, in his posts, condemned the dissolution of the Students’ Union and the eventual suspension of the union leaders, and described the university management as “insensitive” and “irresponsible”. Naming some of the members of the university staff, he said the university had failed its student; he further described his lecturers as lecturers as “ignoramuses”, “misfits”, and molesters of female students and admission seekers.

Adeyeye who was rusticated for four semesters after appearing before a disciplinary committee, had gone ahead to post several more comments on social media, describing his suspension as an act of impunity and vowing to continue to “fight for the rights of students.”

At the weekend, however, the management of the university in a statement entitled “Rejoinder” said Adeyeye’s suspension was in accordance to the provisions of the “Social Misconducts and Penalties Regulations of the University of Lagos.”

The statement said: “The University does not wish to trade issues with a rusticated student. It is, however, important to reiterate that all the rusticated students (including Mr Olorunfemi Adeyeye) were not victimised because of their involvement in the protest.  Mr Adeyeye in particular was specifically found to have breached the Social Misconducts and Penalties Regulations of University of Lagos as clearly stated on page 101 of “University of Lagos, 2015-2016, Students Information Handbook’, item 8 captioned Cyber Offence of any Nature (Yahoo. Yahoo; posting naked pictures on internet; unauthorised use of the University’s name, logo, etc. in a manner that will bring the University to disrepute:”), which carries a penalty of expulsion.”

The statement said the action against Adeyeye was necessary because university degrees are awarded not only for learning, but also for character.