UNILAG crisis worsens as Governing Council appoints Prof. Soyombo new Vice Chancellor
The lingering crisis rocking the University of Lagos, Nigeria has worsened with the announcement of Professor Theophilus Omololu Soyombo as the new Vice Chancellor of the institution by the Governing Council of the University, Wednesday, August 12, 2020.
The Council had Wednesday, August 12, 2020, announced the removal of Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe as the Vice Chancellor with immediate effect.
The announcement, made through a statement by Oladejo Azeez, Registrar and Secretary to Council of the University, had said that the decision to remove Prof. Ogundipe was taken at a meeting of the Council held same Wednesday, August 12, 2020 following investigation of allegations of wrongdoings against him.
But Prof. Ogundipe had in his own statement, denied his removal, insisting that the statement by Azeez was false and that he remained the Vice Chancellor.
Following the statement of Prof. Ogundipe, however, Azeez issued another notice announcing the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor.
The statement urged members of the public “to totally disregard the statement attributed” to Prof. Ogundipe, stressing that “he was lawfully removed by the Governing Council at a meeting fully attended by all Council members.”
Full text of the statement reads:
RE: NOTICE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON THE REMOVAL
OF THE VICE CHANCELLOR, UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS, AKOKA-LAGOS
My attention has been drawn to a document circulating under the hand and signature of the former Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, FAS. The letter purports to deny his removal by the Governing Council of University at its Emergency Meeting of Wednesday, August 12, 2020.
For the avoidance of doubt, I am in my capacity as Registrar and Secretary to Council the only custodian of the minutes of Council and the authorizing officer on behalf of Council to issue official statements pertaining to all Council Affairs.
Members of the public are hereby advised to totally disregard the statement attributed to the said former Vice Chancellor. The position remains that he was lawfully removed by the Governing Council at a meeting fully attended by all Council members.
I also wish to use the opportunity to inform members of the public that Council at the said meeting duly appointed Professor Theophilus Omololu Soyombo of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos as Vice Chancellor of the University in an Acting Capacity.
Oladejo Azeez, Esq.
Registrar and Secretary to Council
