Sex for Grade: All indicted lecturers will be investigated and prosecuted—El-rufai

KADUNA State Governor, Nasir El-rufai has reacted to the suspension of a lecturer of the Kaduna State University (KASU), Bala Umar over allegations of demanding sex for grade from an ex- student of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU Zaria) before he was sacked.

Umar’s appointment was terminated by the authorities of ABU on misconduct bordering on extortion of students in July 2013. But he was employed by KASU  in September 2013 even without a Phd at the age of 54.

He was suspended on Wednesday by the management of KASU after a one-man protest by a female graduate of ABU at KASU against him.

The lady, whose name was not given, alleged that Umar, who was sacked by ABU for sexual misconduct and later employed by KASU, was not fit to be a lecturer in any institution.

However, reacting to the suspension, El-rufai noted that the suspension of Umar is the first step adding that he and 15 lecturers sacked by the management of Ahmadu Bello University would  be investigated and prosecuted by the Attorney General of Kaduna State.

“He and fifteen lecturers sacked by nearby ABU Zaria for sexual harassment will be fully investigated and prosecuted by the Attorney General of Kaduna State. We must face evil and end this scourge in our state,” he tweeted on Thursday.

Before Umar’s suspension on Wednesday, the management of KASU had set up a committee to investigate allegations against him by the former ABU student.

Two committees were set up to conduct investigations into the allegations.

The University Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Abdullahi Ashafa who provided background to Umar’s suspension at a management meeting, said “If found guilty of tarnishing the image of the university, he will be queried, suspended and placed on half salary, then the reports and other decisions will be tabled before the university council for final decision.”

He maintained that “the incidence did not occur in KASU, noting that “Umar was appointed in error; there was no much investigation to ascertain what made him leave ABU at the age of 54.”

Chair of the committee on Umar’s case, Hauwa Evelin-Yusuf, said the committee members were to investigate the appointment of Umar, as well as the reasons he left ABU, and make recommendations.

“ABU terminated Umar’s appointment on misconduct bordering on extortion of students in July 2013 and KASU absorbed him in September 2013”.

“Our findings showed that Umar should have been employed on contract basis if his services were needed because he has no PHD and was 54 years at that time”.

She further disclosed that the committee discovered discrepancies in his submission and that of some students when they were interviewed.

“There were allegations of unethical behaviours and sexual advances but there were no evidences to substantiate the allegations, though there were students whose names were mentioned.

Evelin-Yusuf led committee recommended that Umar’s appointment be converted to contract with immediate effect; and the university could take further decisions.

She however advised that another committee be set up to investigate the case of an unidentified lady who came into the university’s vicinity with a placard saying she was a victim of Umar’s sexual harassment.

“We cannot identify the lady, but we have her picture and we need to look for her, know who she is and to ascertain if she is a student of KASU or ABU, we do not have that information, this is why we recommend another committee because this other issue came after our reports have been concluded,’’ she said.

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