After CAMPUS REPORTER Report, School Management Invites Campus Journalist For Peace Meeting

After the release of a PREMIUM TIMES report, the school management of Gateway Polytechnic in Ogun State has invited Ayoola Babalola for a peace meeting in order to release his results.  

Mr Babalola confirmed to CAMPUS REPORTER that he was invited by the school’s registrar, Julius Popoola ten days ago for a peace talk meeting in his office.

Earlier, PREMIUM TIMES published a report on a National Diploma graduate who was arrested by State Security Service (SSS) and was yet to have access to the school portal for his results and transcript.

Mr Babalola said the development has made it impossible for him to proceed with his Higher National Diploma (HND) and Direct Entry since he graduated last year.

The newspaper also reported that Mr Babalola was arrested early this year and charged to court on six counts for alleged ‘incitement and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.’

He was accused by the Ogun State chapter of the DSS of participating in protests and inciting violence through Facebook posts, according to the charge sheet.

Mr Babalola’s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, said in a recorded phone call he received from an official of the secret police in December, which he shared with PREMIUM TIMES, that the agency said it was inviting Mr Babalola to answer questions on the issues that had resulted in the resignation of a lecturer, O.A. Salami, from the institution.

According to Mr Babalola, he said the school expressed willingness to release his result for peace to reign. He said he can’t tender an apology letter for an undefined offence. 

“When I got to the registrar’s office, he said the school is calling for peace that they told him to organise a peace meeting with me. That the school wants everything to just die down that nothing should be mentioned about the case whether in the media or whatever. 

“So he lectured me and advised me, for now, to conduct myself so that I can be a position for future opportunities not pointing fingers or talking to the government. Then later he said the school wants an apology letter. That I should write an apology letter to collect my certificate.”

In response to writing an apology letter, he said, “I told him that I am unclear about what he is asking me to apologise for and that apologising would mean admitting to an offence and that may mean shooting myself on the leg. I, however, told him that I would consult my lawyer and get back to him.”

“I cannot write an apology for an offence that is undefined. They cannot pinpoint my offence,” he ended. 

School management reaction

When PREMIUM TIMES contacted the school’s Dean of Students Affairs, Oladapo Solaru, he denied knowing about the meeting. 

“You should have called the registrar to confirm from him. I am not the registrar. Thanks,” he said.

As at the time of filing this report all attempts to reach the registrar were unsuccessful.