Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has ordered the authorities of Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, to investigate the allegation of sexual harassment against P.O. Otubu, a lecturer in the electrical/electronic department of the state-owned university.
The governor’s order followed a video whcih has been on the internet, which revealed the disgrace faced by Otubu after one Judith Okosun, a 400-level student of mechanical engineering, who he allegedly pestered for sex, set him up.
The video was recorded when Judith reportedly found out that Engineer Otubu had failed her in a course after she forcefully had sex with her. The lecturer later claimed to Judith that he forgot her matriculation number promising to give her a better grade after another opportunity. An enraged Judith then engaged her friends to videotape an encounter with the lecturer, after she reportedly tried in vain to get the university to intervene on her behalf.
Engineer Otubu, a lecturer of Electrical/Electronics teaches a faculty-wide course in the faculty of engineering and technology .
Spokesman for the university, Chris Adama-Igbo, told Saharareporters that following the governor’s order, the registrar of the university had issued queries to both Mr. Otubu and Ms. Okosun.
They have up till Monday, July 26, to respond to the queries, after which they face a panel to be constituted soon by the university..
Mr. Adama-Igbo said until the office of the governor drew the university’s attention to the publication, the institution was not aware of the matter.
He explained that the university does not condone such sharp practices but that students hardly come forward to report lecturers who mistreat them or known to indulge in unethical conducts.
“There is a safeguard against such malpractices. But at times, students fear that they will be stigmatized,” Mr. Adama-Igbo said. “They also fear reprisals from other lecturers, that others might fail them. So they keep their experiences to themselves.”
He disclosed that three years ago, a lecturer who was found guilty of sexual harassment in Ms. Okosun’s mechanical engineering department was dismissed from the university..
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