By Ayo Kehinde
Rising from a meeting on Thursday at the University of Lagos, members of the Senate voted for the retention of current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Toyin Ogundipe and rejected the appointment of acting Vice-Chancellor by the Dr Wale Balalakin led-Council on Thursday.
Prof Soyombo was appointed by the Council, which on Wednesday reportedly sacked Ogundipe on the ground of alleged fraud, highhandedness and insubordination.
The Senate meeting, which ended shortly after that held by the pro- Ogundipe four staff of the institution, namely ASUU, NASU, SSANU and NAAT, stated in a statement that after receiving and considering the report of one of its representative at the Council, it drew the conclusion that the action by the Council, “constitute a gross violation of Section 3(8), 9, 10 and 11 of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act, 220 on the removal of Vice-Chancellor of any Federal University in Nigeria.
It said the Senate was not invited to any of the Council’s meetings as required by law and that it only heard of Prof Ogundipe’s removal on social media, which means that due process was not followed by the Council.
“Senate rejects the purported removal of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe; reaffirms its confidence in Prof Ogundipe as the substantive chancellor of the university of Lagos, pass a vote of no confidence on the Council of the university led by Dr. Wale Babalakin and calls on the visitor for the immediate dissolution of the Council and the rejection of the appointment of Professor Theophilus Omololu Soyombo as the action Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos,” said the university Senate in a statement signed by Prof Chioma Agomo, Chairman the Senate emergency meeting, Prof J. Dele Oluwokudejo, member, Prof Oluwole Atoyebi, member, Prof Folasade Akinsola, member, Prof Lucian Chukwu, member and Prof Ayodele, Atsenuwa, member.
