OOU SACKS EX-VC OVER CONTROVERSIAL N100BN BOND

The former Vice-Chancellor of the Crescent University Abeokuta, Prof. Sheriffdeen Tella, has been removed by the authorities of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye.

The sacking of the Professor in the Economics Department of the university, our correspondent gathered on Wednesday, might not be unconnected with his comment on the controversy over the N100bn bond issue.

The sacking, it was stated, would take effect from December 27.

Tella had earlier resigned his appointment from the vice-chancellorship position of the Crescent University, over what he described as his refusal to apologise to the state government and withdraw his comment against the controversial bond.

Speaking in an interview with our correspondent on his resignation as the vice-chancellor, Tella had said, 'I was given an option to make either a public apology and withdraw my statement on the bond issue to retain my job, or I lose my job as the VC and at OOU. I chose to resign my appointment as the vice-chancellor while I will return to OOU to await my fate.'

Tella, who confirmed the eventual termination of appointment by OOU, disclosed that the authorities of the Ogun State-owned university attributed its decision to 'an ongoing restructuring in the university.'

He said, 'My appointment with OOU has just been terminated as I predicted earlier. The letter just stated that my services are no longer required from December 27, 2010.'

The professor, who described his predicament as a temporary setback, disclosed his intention to seek legal redress over his removal.

He said, 'I know that the Academic Staff Union of Universities always takes up such matters but this will not foreclose the possibility of instituting legal action against the decision on my own.'

He described his sacking as rather unfortunate, most especially as the Department of Economics of the university was one of the programmes of the university that was recently denied accreditation by the National Universities Commission, owing to the shortage of lecturers, among others.

Reacting to the development, Ogun State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Sina Kawonise, exonerated the state governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, from the action.

According to him, 'All issues of appointment or disengagement are the preserve of the Governing Council of the different tertiary institutions in Ogun State as elsewhere.'