Why Delta University dismissed lecturers over sexual harassment, unethical conducts

The governing council and management of the Delta State University Abraka, Delta State, have said that the decision to terminate the employments of six senior academic and non-academic staff of the university followed due disciplinary process. The council warned against making any insinuation of witch-hunt or bias. The affected staff were sacked for offences ranging […]

The governing council and management of the Delta State University Abraka, Delta State, have said that the decision to terminate the employments of six senior academic and non-academic staff of the university followed due disciplinary process.
The council warned against making any insinuation of witch-hunt or bias.
The affected staff were sacked for offences ranging from alleged leakage of examination question papers; issuance of fake degree certificates; sexual harassment and extortion of money from students. Othere offences are theft; absconding from duty for period over six months; insubordination, laxity and complacency.
The institution’s public relations officer (PRO), Mr Eddy Agbure, told Daily Trust, that the offenders and victims appeared before the university’s disciplinary committee, in line with the extant rules of the university, and were given fair hearing.
“Witnesses were also invited and, with concrete evidences, the committee arrived at the decision to dismiss the affected staff,” Agbure said. “So anyone insinuating bias or witch-hunt is free to appeal the decision of the university’s governing council. But I can assure you that due processes were followed and those involved were given fair hearing.”
According to the university’s spokesman, the disciplinary action was necessary to reposition the institution on the pedestal of sterling academic standards and best practices and instil discipline among the management and staff.
“On the other hand, the university does not condone indecent dressing by students and metes out disciplinary action to offenders. It is not out of place to imagine that students also sexually harass the staff. But it is at the discretion of the affected staff to give in to sexual harassment from students. We have not received any such report so far.”
A statement issued by the DELSU Governing Council, said that a lecturer in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Dr J.O.T. Emudianohwo, was found culpable in a case of sexual harassment, mutilation of results and extortion of money from students of the department.
It added that Emudianohwo was found wanting in cases of insubordination and refusal to submit past question papers, marking schemes, answer booklets/scripts and results of courses examined by him, coupled with poor administration of the department.
Similarly, Mr A.C. Akpokiniovo of the Department of Educational Administration and Policy Studies, who was paraded by the Delta State Police Command in a case of sexual harassment of a student, Esther Omokiniovo, was summarily dismissed.
 The university’s governing council directed that the police report which emanated from investigations on the case should be documented.
The council also approved the dismissal of an assistant registrar, Mr M.O. Ovrawah, a senior lecturer in the Department of Human Physiology, Dr A. C. Okolo, and the senior accountant, Mr Ogheneyore Evanson Akpobi, for absconding from duty.
However, an assistant lecturer, Mr S.A. Eyenubo, was axed for non-submission of course results sheets to the Department of Economics for the 2012/2013 academic session.
The council directed the Department of Accounting and Finance to organise fresh examination for the affected students.
The governing council stated that the university’s records showed that Eyenubo, who was on study leave with pay, was expected to resume on February 7, 2016, but has not been seen since then and, therefore, directed that the TETFUND Office be notified not to make any remittance of sponsorship to his institution of study.
 However, the university’s council exonerated a personal secretary, Mrs. T.B. Edegware, of allegations of leakage of question paper in the first semester 2015/2016 session examination levelled against her, directing the vice-chancellor to issue administrative query to the acting head of Department of Curriculum and Integrated Sciences, Dr O.P. Ajaja, “for not being alive to his responsibilities.”
The council further directed that if the explanation from Ajaja was unsatisfactory, “he should be arraigned before the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee (SSDC).”
The council instructed that the half salary of the personal secretary that was withheld during the period of her suspension be refunded her.
 Efforts by Daily Trust to reach the sacked members of staff did not yield fruit but competent sources in the university said that since the dismissal order took effect, they were not expected to be seen within the confines of the university.
Meanwhile, the council has approved the appointment of 10 professors in the departments of agricultural economics and extension; agronomy; obstetrics and gynaecology; chemistry; biochemistry; human kinetics and health education; animal and environmental biology.
Also to benefit from the professorial appointment were departments of business administration and marketing, technical and business education and institute of education.
Also, 14 readers were promoted and appointed into various fields and disciplines.