From ‘Yanju Uwala
Students under the umbrella of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Ogun JCC, the National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS) in conjunction with the National Association of University Students (NAUS) has called for the prosecution of a lecturer at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof. AbdulHakeem Agboola over age falsification and certificate discrepancies.
The students made this call during a joint press statement made available to Newsmen on Sunday, stated that the lecturer is currently on suspension for violating the laws of the institution by the Academic Staff Establishment Unit.
Agboola, is a Professor of Mathematics in the University.
In the statement which was jointly signed by the NAN Chairman, Damilola Simeon Kehinde, NAOSS President, Ogunrombi Oluwagbemileke and the deputy national President of NAUS, Abdulgafar Adebowale, however accused Agboola of falsifying his age and also presenting certificate with different names to the institution.
The student leaders, therefore called on the Institution management and Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Prof. Felix Kolawole Salako to urgently set up a fact finding panel to investigate the allegations against him.
The students also lamented the alleged victimisation of students by lecturers, saying “the widespread abuse of office in the academia has seen many students believe they will only graduate if they curry the favour of their lecturers rather than through hard work and merit.
“We have been monitoring situation of events at some of our Ivory Towers and we can confidently say that we are not satisfied with the way future leaders of this country are being treated.
“We have observed that some lecturers see their privileged position as a licence to victimise and take advantage of students.
“The bad eggs in the academia particularly have made NANS and other students bodies become disillusioned about the sincerity and integrity of some people who are expected to train future leaders in character and learning.
“Beyond the victimisation of students, some of these lecturers now engage in admission racketeering, grade auctioning, sex-for-grades and result merchandising, among others.
“In view of the foregoing, we therefore express interest in the allegations of age falsification and certificate discrepancies leveled against Prof. AbdulAkeem Agboola, a Professor of Mathematics from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, by the Academic Staff Establishment Unit of the institution.
“According to documents submitted to the Academic Staff Establishment Unit, Prof. AbdulAkeem Agboola who is currently on suspension have falsified his age while also presenting Certificates with different names to the institution.
“Aside from the above, our students have at different times reported his high-handedness which borders on sadism coupled with his infamous ramshackle relationship with both students and Staff members.
“Such person, if found culpable, is not worthy of being found among academicians who are supposed to be impeccable role models to the younger generation.
“While we implore the management of FUNAAB, under the leadership of Prof. Felix Kolawole Salako as well as the Academic Staff Establishment Unit to observe due diligence and thoroughly investigate the allegations, we also urge that the issue be referred to relevant quarters for appropriate sanctions.
“We also demand that the findings of the panel that was set up to investigate the allegations be made public and necessary actions taken within the next 14 days.
“Should the management fail to do the needful, our members won’t hesitate take all legal steps within our constitutional rights to press home our demands.
“We hope that such step will serve as deterrent to those who may want to go against the rules and regulations guiding universities administration in Nigeria.
All efforts to reach Prof. Agboola proved abortive as calls to his mobile phone went unanswered.
