The Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife has suspended Professor Richard Akindele for allegedly demanding sex from a postgraduate student, Miss. Monica Osagie.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede confirmed the suspension in a statement on Thursday.
Prof Ogunbodede added that the committee set up by the university to investigate the allegation against Akindele established a prima face case against the lecturer.
Akindele had in a telephone conversation leaked online allegedly demanded five rounds of sex from Osagie to change her mark from 33 to a pass.
“In the interim report submitted to the Vice Chancellor, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, Professor Richard I. Akindele, of the Department of Management and Accounting, is now established to be the lecturer in the controversial “marks for sex” audio recording. The female voice has also been identified as that of Miss Monica Osetobe Osagie, a postgraduate student of the Master of Business Administration regular programme.
“Although the investigative committee had invited both Professor Richard Akindele and Miss Osagie, only Professor Akindele appeared before the committee, while Miss Osagie has yet to appear or make any representation. The report indicated that many other witnesses appeared before the committee and gave useful evidence. The university is making efforts to ensure that Miss Osagie appears before the investigative committee so that it can hear her side of the case and promptly submit its final report.
“The committee observed that a prima facie case of inappropriate relationship with the female student had been established against Professor Richard Akindele. The vice-chancellor, having carefully and dispassionately considered the report, also came to the conclusion that a prima facie case of serious misconduct had been established.
“Having regard to the gravity of the offence for which Professor Richard I. Akindele is found to be prima facie liable, the vice-chancellor, in line with the Code of Conduct for the university community and acting under all the laws and regulations of the university enabling him in that regard, has directed that Professor Richard I. Akindele be suspended forthwith from the university, pending the final determination of the disciplinary case against him,” the statement said.
Ogunbodede added that the university could not terminate the appointment of the lecturer now because such an action could only be taken by the governing council after the professor had been found guilty by the Joint Council and Senate Committee of the university.
