A lecturer in the department of Management and Accounting, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (names withheld), who is at the centre of a sex-for-mark allegation, has maintained sealed lips.
He has so far resisted every attempt by journalists to hear his side of the sex-for-marks scandal.
“What is your issue? What is your issue?” he repeatedly asked a reporter who called him on the phone over the matter. Predictably, he angrily cut the telephone call, and subsequently refused to answer further calls.
Indeed a telephone conversation involving the lecturer and a female student was posted on social media platforms on April 9, in which the lady accused him of posturing to sleep with her in exchange for examination marks.
The student had called the professor to inquire about his earlier request, upon which she was to get a pass mark in his course, which she supposedly failed.
The lecturer responded by telling the student that she would repeat the exam in the next academic session as she had refused to “take the opportunity” he offered her to submit herself to him.
Meanwhile, as the media was awash with the report, which generated huge reactions amongst Nigerians, the university management through the Vice-chancellor, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede on Wednesday set up an investigative panel to get to the root of the scandal.
“I wish to assure the general public that Obafemi Awolowo University has zero tolerance for sexual harassment. The University considers sexual harassment as a serious offence contrary to its Code of Conduct for the University Community and against the Anti-sexual Harassment Policy of the University. It is totally and morally reprehensible, and the University will never condone such act by any staff or student.
“Once again, I wish to reiterate that no one found culpable of this serious misconduct of sexual harassment will go unpunished,” Ogunbodede had said.