By YANJU UWALA
No doubt the recent dismissal of the two senior Lecturers at the Lagos State University (LASU), Professor Olatunji Abanikada and Dr. Khadeejah Kareem-Ibraheem, must have sparked joyful reaction among the students and the lecturers, as well, because according to reports, the inhumane treatment meted out to students and lecturers by Prof. Abanikada for the past five years as a Dean of a faculty within the institution, is nothing to augur well with all. Also, among reasons for their dismissal is gross misconduct, involving sexual harassment and fraud
Though, the dismissal was approved at the LASU Governing Council’s 143rd Statutory Meeting held on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
According to a statement signed by the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Emmanuel Fanu, the two lecturers were found guilty of inhumane treatment of students, sexual harassment, and financial impropriety.
Fanu, in the statement made available to newsmen, said one of the dismissed academic staff members is Dr Olatunji Abanikanda, the Dean of the Epe campus of the Department of Agricultural Science, before his dismissal.
He was accused of subjecting students to “degrading and inhumane treatment” on the department’s farm where they do their practical course work.
Fanu said, “Dean, School of Agriculture, Epe Campus, Prof. Olatunji Tajudeen Fasasi Abanikannda, was dismissed over multiple allegations, including: Subjecting 400 Level students of the School of Agriculture to inhumane treatment by keeping them on the farm from 6:30am to 10pm without break, food, and water even during torrential rainfall that lasted between 4:45 p.m. to after 6pm, an action prejudicial to the security of the University. Sexual harassment of female students of the same school. Subjecting staff members and students to emotional and physical trauma using threats, curses, derogatory utterances, and profane expletives on them, an act unbecoming of a public officer of the University. Unauthorised collection of money from staff and students of the School of Agriculture, contrary to university regulations.”
Also, the other lecturer, the Coordinator, Department of Animal Sciences, School of Agriculture, Epe Campus, Dr Khadeejah Kareem-Ibraheem, was dismissed for alleged dereliction of duty by failing to adhere to the university’s approved guidelines, procedures and curriculum.
Kareem-Ibraheem’s alleged offences also include “Failure to remit to the University coffers, proceeds from the sale of farm produce (amounting to over ₦10.6 million), which was kept in her personal bank account, as against the University guidelines.”
“These acts, tantamount to ‘Serious Misconduct’, are in contravention of the University’s Conditions of Service for Senior Staff (2017, as amended),” Fanu said.
The University Management reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the integrity of academic and administrative standards.
Looking at these happenings within the institution recently, one can say, these are lessons to learn from especially as an academic body and as individual, this is not just occuring or happening for the sake of making it come to pass but because it has a reason behind it, which is a call for all human beings in power to know that being in power is a criteria to mismanage such opportunity, rather it is an avenue to get involved positively with people you are leading. The abuse of power is now at high level in our society, even in Communities, Religion Centres (Churches and Mosques), Schools, Work places, among others; yet we are not looking forward to cut down these excessive use of power, rather, we want to be adding more to it through different means within ourselves.
Lessons to be learnt as various academic bodies in our institutions, be it; Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Academic Union of Universities (SSANU), Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), among other academic bodies, as they really need to learn a lot from the two dismissed lecturers.
Such kind of events are happening in our various higher institutions, but some are been kept underground, while some are swept under the carpet after some time of trying to investigate the information, but whomsoever has been made to pass through the judgment of God, will not evade it but surely pass through it, as this is not the judgment of man.
Bringing back to our memories, what some may not even have heard of about the illegal treatment of students by the dismissed professor, a report by SaharaReporters had earlier on May 27 showed that the management of Lagos State University (LASU) dismissed Professor O.T.F. Abanikanda from his role as Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture following allegations of degrading and inhumane treatment of students at the university’s school farm.
However, sources had revealed that Dr. Oladele Ojuromi has been appointed as the new Dean of the Faculty.
This decision came after the Take-It-Back (TIB) Movement raised concerns about the harsh and unacceptable conditions students were subjected to while living and working on the farm.
His sack has sparked a spontaneous joyful reaction by students. One of the joyous students said, “After TIB’s intervention in the ongoing LASU crisis, the management relieved Prof. O.T.F. Abanikanda of his duty and appointed Dr. Oladele Ojuromi as the new Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture.”
“You can see the joy on the students’ faces! Abanikanda has been a tyrant for five years and a burden on the students,” another student said.
“The case was brought to the office of the Lagos TIB coordinator, and we took it upon ourselves to act. Victory is ours.”
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Southwest Zone D, had, on May 24, 2025, issued a scathing condemnation of Prof Abanikanda over what it described as a “consistent pattern of tyranny, intimidation, and abuse of power” spanning more than two decades.
The students’ body alleged, in a statement to Platforms Africa that Prof. Abanikanda had cultivated a legacy of authoritarianism dating back to 2002 during his time at the Faculty of Management Sciences.
NANS described the dean’s leadership style as “unprofessional and inhumane,” accusing him of fostering a toxic environment detrimental to both students and academic staff.
“This tyranny must no longer be tolerated,” the students’ union declared, urging the university management and Lagos State Government to launch an urgent investigation and take decisive disciplinary action against the embattled professor”.
‘Yanju Uwala is a journalist, writer and public affairs analyst. A graduate of Mass Communication (Print and Online), Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Lagos State.
