Group Warns Against Using SSANU, Media Campaigns To Obstruct Investigation Into Alleged Academic Fraud, Forgery
The South West Youth Alliance has called on the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, FUOYE, Ekiti State, Prof. Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole, to honour invitations extended to him by the Nigeria Police Force and submit himself to the ongoing investigation into allegations reportedly connected with his administration.
The call was made in a statement signed by the Convener of the South West Youth Alliance, Adenike Ajanlekoko, who urged the Vice-Chancellor to use the opportunity provided by the police investigation to address the allegations against him rather than engaging in what the group described as unnecessary attempts to avoid or distract from the process.
According to the Alliance, Prof. Ogunwole should understand that allegations bordering on academic fraud, impersonation, forgery, falsification of official documents and illegal appointment, if established by competent authorities, are matters that may have criminal implications under Nigerian law and therefore require proper investigation by the relevant law-enforcement agencies.
“We call on Prof. Ogunwole to honour the invitations reportedly extended to him by the Force Intelligence Department and the Nigeria Police Cybercrime Centre. If he has no case to answer, the appropriate place to demonstrate this is before the investigating authorities, where he can provide the necessary documents, explanations and evidence to clear his name,” Ajanlekoko said.
The group also urged the Vice-Chancellor to cooperate fully with the police over allegations reportedly involving unlawful recording, privacy violation, workplace harassment, victimisation, cyberbullying and threat to life, stressing that such allegations should be subjected to due process and professional investigation.
The South West Youth Alliance said neither the media nor any staff union should be used as a substitute for lawful investigative procedures.
The Alliance particularly cautioned against any attempt to mobilise members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, or any other group to obstruct police officers in the lawful discharge of their duties.
“SSANU is a respected trade union with legitimate interests in the welfare and rights of university workers. However, no association should be placed in a position where its members are perceived as obstructing a lawful police investigation. Any disagreement with an investigative process should be addressed through lawful channels,” the statement said.
Ajanlekoko further stressed that public statements, protests or media campaigns cannot, by themselves, determine the outcome of a criminal investigation.
“The proper response to an invitation from law-enforcement authorities is cooperation, not confrontation. If the allegations are false, Prof. Ogunwole has every opportunity to say so, present evidence and defend himself before the appropriate authorities.
“Similarly, if any individual believes that the police investigation is being conducted improperly, there are established legal and administrative mechanisms for challenging such conduct. The media should not be used as a replacement for those mechanisms,” she added.
The Alliance urged all parties involved to exercise restraint and allow the Nigeria Police Force to conduct its investigation professionally, independently and in accordance with the law, while respecting the rights of all persons involved, including the right to be presumed innocent until proven otherwise by a competent court.
The group also called on the university community to avoid actions capable of escalating tensions on campus, stressing that the integrity of Nigeria's university system depends on accountability, transparency, respect for due process and adherence to the rule of law.
“We therefore call on Prof. Ogunwole to honour the invitations before the relevant police departments, cooperate with investigators and provide whatever information is required to establish the facts.
“Running from pillar to post, mobilising supporters or relying on media campaigns will not resolve the issues. What is required now is transparency, cooperation and respect for due process,” Ajanlekoko said.
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