UNILAG Governing Council sacks VC, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, has been sacked by the University’s governing council over alleged misconduct.

Ogundipe was reportedly sacked at a council meeting of the Governing Council of the institution held at the National Universities Commission (NUC) building in Abuja on Wednesday.

The Pro-Chancellor, Dr Wale Babalakin, presided over the meeting where seven members voted for the removal of the VC while four voted against it. It is worthy to note that one member voted that he should be suspended.

The University’s Governing Council confirmed the removal in a statement issued by the registrar and secretary to the council, Azeez Oladejo on Wednesday.

According to the statement, Ogundipe was removed on allegations of serious acts of wrongdoing, abuse of office, financial recklessness and gross misconduct.

The statement reads: “The general public is hereby notified that at an emergency meeting held on Wednesday 12 August 2020 and in accordance with the statutory power vested in it by law, the Governing Council of the University of Lagos removed Prof. Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, FAS from office as Vice-Chancellor of the University with immediate effect.

“The decision was based on the Council’s investigation of serious acts of wrongdoing, gross misconduct, financial recklessness, and abuse of office against Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe.”

Ogundipe reacts, says he remains UNILAG VC

Meanwhile, reacting to the removal by the governing council, Vice-Chancellor of The University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe insists that he still remains the Vice-Chancellor of the institution.

The reaction was contained in a statement personally signed by Ogundipe on Wednesday.

He said the report making the rounds on his removal is untrue.

Ogundipe urged stakeholders of the University and the general public to disregard the report, stating that he still remains the Vice-Chancellor.

The statement reads: “The attention of the University of Lagos (Unilag) management has been drawn to the ‘Notice to the General Public on the Removal of the Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos’; dated August 12, 2020, and signed by Oladejo Azeez, Esq, Registrar and Secretary to Council, stating that the current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, FAS has been removed from office with immediate effect.

“This is untrue and a figment of his imagination. Therefore, stakeholders of Unilag and the general public are advised to disregard this mischievous disinformation about the sitting Vice-Chancellor of Unilag, contained in that notice. Professor Ogundipe still remains Unilag’s Vice-Chancellor.”