ICPC arraigns TASUED lecturer over alleged sexual harassment

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a lecturer of the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) for sexually harassing a female student.

In a statement on Friday, the commission said the lecturer was also charged for seeking the payment of N100,000 in exchange for sexual benefits.

The lecturer, identified as Balogun Olaniran, is the head of the department of religious studies at the institution.

He was arraigned before Elizabeth Osinuga, the presiding judge, at the Ijebu-Ode high court, Ogun state.

During the arraignment, the ICPC counsel said the lecturer committed the crime between October and November 2021.

The counsel said the lecturer “demanded for sexual benefit or the payment of N100,000 from a female student with a promise to alter her academic grades”.

While reading the charge, the judge said: “Within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, corruptly demanded for sexual benefit or payment of the sum of N100,000 for himself from … (name withheld), a female student, on account of a favour to be afterwards shown her in the discharge of his official duties as a lecturer and head of department of religious studies at the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ijebu Ode, to wit, offering to alter her academic grades from fail to pass in courses with codes EDU 311 and EDU 312.”

The defendant was said to have pleaded not guilty to the charge against him.

The judge admitted the defendant to a bail of N500,000 with surety in like sum which must present evidence of three years tax clearance and evidence of means.

The case was adjourned to May 11, 2023, for the commencement of trial.