Sex-For-Mark: OAU Authorities Dismiss Randy Lecturer

For sexual misconduct, authorities of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, has dismissed Professor Richard I. Akindele of the Department of Accounting, Faculty of Administration, from the service of the institution.

Akindele, a senior lecturer, was dismissed after he was found liable on all the allegation of sexually harassing his student, Miss Monica Osagie.

 Speaking with journalists at the institution Wednesday, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, disclosed that the university arrived at the dismissal option following the recommendation of the Joint Committee of Council and Senate constituted to probe the allegation.

The vice chancellor noted that the professor had an inappropriate relationship with Osagie as established through their conversations in the audio recording.

According to him, he had acted in a manner that is seen to have compromised his position as a teacher and examiner in that his conversations with Miss Osagie were about examination scores and inducement of favour for the alteration of examination scores.

According to him, "He offered to change Osagie's purported 33 percent result to a pass mark in consideration for sexual favours, this was established in the audio recording which he admitted."

"His claim that Miss Osagie knew that she had passed with a score of 45% but was seeking to score an A and that this led to him being sexually harassed by Miss Osagie cannot be supported by any evidence.

"Professor Akindele's action in requesting sexual favour from Osagie to change her examination score was scandalous behaviour that has brought ridicule to the name of the university and has tarnished the reputation of the university, as it portrays the university as an institution where its teachers and examiners trade mark for sex."

Professor Ogunbodede disclosed that the university is creating awareness and disseminating information on what constitute sexual harassment within the university noting the veracity of sexual harassment concept which includes sexual solicitation, sex exploitation among others.

The Vice Chancellor of  OAU said he is fully committed to the eradication of sexual and any other harassment from tertiary institutions, and will do all that is possible to nip the menace in the bud.