OAU Campus Journalist ‘Apologises’ To Management Over False Claim

Following the widely circulated news report, which alleged the Obafemi Awolowo University chapter of Association of Campus Journalists to have demanded a sum of 5 million naira from the university management for organisation leadership summit, the reporter, Bamidele Williams of PigeonPost, a campus news platform, has withdrawn the allegation and apologised, CAMPUS REPORTER has been told.

The report containing the allegation was posted online on Thursday. It claimed the both vice-chancellor Eyitope Ogunbodede and the Dean of Students Affairs, Isiaka Aransi helped the ACJ facilitate the release of the money.

Later on Thursday, Mr. Aransi summoned the writer to a meeting at which the author of the report was asked to defend the report, according to Caleb Farombi, a student present at the meeting.

The student could defend his claim, Mr. Farombi said. “The Dean was furious after Bamidele (the author) couldn’t answer the questions posed to him.”

He stated further that that the author prostrated to beg the dean and others present joined in pleading so as to pacify him (Dean), who saw the report as an indictment without proof.

However, when contacted, the campus journalist denied pleading with the management but claimed that he only attended a ‘fatherly-peace-making’ meeting facilitated by the dean between himself (the journalist) and the ACJ.

“The Dean advised me not to use derogatory words and like my father, I can’t reject his advice.” he stated.

We learnt on good authority that Bamidele has been trying to fix a meeting with the president of the ACJ, Okeowo Olasunkanmi, who insists Bamidele retract his report or face law suit.

The ACJ had earlier issued a rejoinder denying soliciting funds from the management.

“PigeonPost news agency has injured and soiled the good name, reputation, objectivity and moral standard upheld by the Association for the past 47 years of existence. And in light of this, the Association demands prove(s) of what was written within 24hours to this release or face legal consequences,” the rejoinder read.