#SexForGrades: UNILAG Fires Two Lecturers

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The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has dismissed Boniface Igbeneghu and Samuel Omoniyi Oladipo, two lecturers caught soliciting sex from students in exchange for grades in a 2019 investigation by the BBC. The institution had earlier suspended Igbeneghu, who doubles as a pastor, and Oladipo following the investigation. It thereafter set up a panel to investigate the allegations brought against them. A statement issued on Wednesday by the university’s communication unit, corporate affairs division at the office of the vice-chancellor, said the dismissals were effective from Monday, May 31. According to the statement, the move is in line with section 18 of the University of Lagos Act 1967. It also said the dismissal followed the BBC report and findings of its senate committee constituted to probe the matter.

It added that the immediate sack of the lecturers was approved by the governing council of the varsity at its meeting which held on May 31.

The statement reads in part; “The Governing Council of the University of Lagos, at its meeting on Monday, May 31, 2021, approved the immediate dismissal of Dr. Boniface Igbeneghu of the Department of European Languages and Integration Studies, Faculty of Arts and Dr. Samuel Omoniyi Oladipo of the Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, from the services of the University.

“[The] council considered the report and findings of the senate committee set up to investigate allegations of sexual harassment levelled against them in a BBC World Service investigative series titled Africa Eye,”.

“Council, at its meeting, considered the report and findings of the Senate Committee set up to investigate allegations of sexual harassment levelled against them in a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World Service Investigative Series titled AFRICA EYE (which centred on sexual harassment in tertiary institutions).

“The council consequently decided and approved that both Dr. Boniface Igbeneghu and Dr. Samuel Omoniyi Oladipo be dismissed from the services of the University for misconduct, with effect from Monday, May 31, 2021.”

The university added that the council had mandated the university authorities to review its sexual harassment policy “as may be necessary and institute effective strategies to prevent future occurrence.”