The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has lauded the Senate of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife for relieving a lecturer, Prof. Richard Akindele of his duty for involving in a sex scandal.
According to the students’ body, the decision is in-line with the Federal Government’s stand against human rights abuse in the country.
The NANS’ National Public Relations Officer, Mr Bestman Okereafor, made this remark in a statement on Friday in Enugu.
The OAU’s governing council, had on June 20, dismissed Prof. Richard Akindele, after its Senate found him wanting on the allegation of ‘sex-for-mark’ misconduct brought against him by a female master’s degree student, Monica Osagie.
Okereafor said that NANS believed that sacking the lecturer was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to the fight against all forms of Human Rights abuse within government and its institutions.
He said that it would serve as a deterrent to other lecturers, who might be nurturing similar habit or already indulging in such misconduct on campuses across the federation.
Okereafor said that NANS implored the university to as a matter of urgency, prosecute the lecturer in a court of competent jurisdiction to face the full wrath of the law.
According to him, NANS is also calling on the female students to shun indecent dressing within and outside the campuses so that they can always protect the dignity of motherhood.
“The leadership of the over 40.1 million Nigerian students both at home and the diaspora under the auspices of NANS, salutes the authority of OAU for its decision,’’ he said.
In a related development, NANS has described the rustication of one Kunle Adebajo, a student journalist of the University of Ibadan, as unlawful.
“It is against the principle of human rights, as we consider this as an opportunity to silence the voice of Nigerian students in that institution against anti-students policies.
“It is disheartening and unfortunate that students journalists can no more express their opinions, affecting their fellow students without ending up as victims of oppression and victimisation.
“NANS is calling on the management of the University of Ibadan to as a matter of urgency, reinstate Adebajo unconditionally or face the full wrath of Nigerian students.
“An injury to one, remains an injury to all,’’ he added. (NAN)