The purportedly removed vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe on Thursday led a protest against his removal by the governing council of the school.
Ogundipe was declared removed on Wednesday during a meeting of the school’s governing council headed by the council chairman who is also UNILAG Pro-Chancellor Wale Babalakin at the National Universities Commission in Abuja.
Ogundipe who has insisted he remains vice-chancellor led a protest held by four unions of the university – the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, National Association of Academic Technologists, and Non-Academic Staff Union.
Ogundipe walked with the union members from the Senate building to the school’s gate.
Addressing the union members later, he said: “I remain dedicated to UNILAG. We are all builders and have all invested so much to this great university. I have been here for 30 years in different capacities. Let’s wait for the directives from the government. I remain a functional member of the union; we are enjoying peace here, let’s remain peaceful.”
The unions in a joint statement also called on the Ministry of Education and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission to intervene in the crisis.
PUNCH gathered that Ogundipe has engaged a senior lawyer Mike Ozekhome to challenge his removal in court.
The letter addressed to Mr Ozekhome was dated August 12. The vice-chancellor stated in the letter that the act was without due process and contrary to the university’s Act.
Ogundipe currently enjoys the backing of the UNILAG Senate the top decision-making body of the institution.
Following a resolution on Thursday, the Senate rejected Ogundipe’s removal and passed a vote of no confidence in the council led by Babalakin, calling for its dissolution.
It also rejected the appointment of an acting vice-chancellor Prof. Theophilus Soyombo.
