ASUU-LASU kicks as VC accuses union of corruption

Olanrewaju Fagbohun, vice-chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU), has accused the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the institution of operating an illegal bank account.

In a letter to the union, Fagbohun said the operation of the account by Isaac Oyewunmi and Adebowale Suenu, who were allegedly dismissed by the governing council in 2017, was inappropriate.

The vice-chancellor said the duo had been collecting a monthly allowance of N50,000 each from the general monthly deductions of members of the union.

In another letter dated January 14, Fagbohun directed the immediate suspension of the remittance of check-off dues of members of the union to the account.

He said the university would not allow its mechanisms to be used to aid and abet fraud and corruption.

In a response to the vice-chancellor’s allegation, the union accused Fagbohun of using his office illegally.

The letter dated January 11 and signed by Tony Dansu, the union’s secretary, and Adeolu Oyekan, the assistant secretary, ASUU-LASU said the vice chancellor has been meddling in the internal workings of the union.

In another letter dated January 14, the union said it is only the national executive council (NEC) of the union that can determine and recognise its leadership.

They said Oyewumi remains the chairman of the union in the university.

“You would please recall that Dr. Isaac Oyewumi was purportedly dismissed on what the union regards as false allegations and trumped up charges of “demand for money from students” and not for “extortion of money from students” as claimed in the said letter,” the union stated.

“Not only that, you would also recall that the purported dismissal of the Chairman is still a subject of litigation in a competent court of law. It is therefore expected that as a Senior Advocate and a law teacher for several years, you should know that this matter is Sub-judice.

“In view of the foregoing, our union wishes to counsel that the university administration under your leadership retrace its steps from this ignoble path which has become unfashionable in the annals of this university.”