TheCable

The governing council of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife has dismissed a lecturer who was accused of sexual misconduct.

Adebayo Mosobalaje, a lecturer in the department of English, was said to have sexually harassed Rachel Momoh, an undergraduate in the institution.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Abiodun Olarewaju, the university’s public relations officer, said the lecturer was dismissed after thorough deliberation by the university’s management.

He said the decision has further established that the institution frowns at any form of sexual intimidation.

“Having exhaustively deliberated on the report of the Joint Committee of Council and Senate, which investigated the case of sexual harassment against Dr Mosobalaje, the University Council, unambiguously declared its zero tolerance to sexual harassment in any form or guise and, accordingly, applied the appropriate University sanctions for such an offence as contained in the University regulation,” the statement reads.

“It would be recalled that almost two weeks ago, the University Management formally inaugurated an “anti-sexual harassment policy” where their excellencies, Erelu Bisi Fayemi (the wife of Ekiti State Governor) and Alhaja Kafayat Oyetola (the wife of Osun State Governor) presented papers while a former Vice Chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Professor Yemisi Obilade was the main speaker.

“At several fora, the Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, has reiterated the commitment of his administration to uphold the “Zero tolerance policy” for Sexual harassment and other social vices.”

An investigative panel set up by the school had earlier found Mosobalaje culpable of sexual misconduct and recommended that he was “deserving of the highest punishment of dismissal”.