The Federal Government last night paddled into the crisis at the University of Lagos with the setting up of a visitation panel to investigate the condition at the institution.
It requested the key players in the crisis -Pro Chancellor/Chairman, Governing Council of the university, Dr. Wale Babalakin and the battered Vice Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe to recuse themselves from performing their official duties while the probe lasts.
Last week’s appointment of Professor Theophilus Shoyomo as acting vice chancellor by Babalakin as well cancelled out as government told the Senate of the institution to meet within one week to find a replacement.
The panel of seven members is led by Professor Tukur Sa’ad.
Other members are: Barrister Victor Onuoha,Orofessor Ikenna Oyindo,Professor Ekanem Braide, Professor Adamu K. Usman, Chief Jimoh Bankole and Barrister Grace Ekanem will serve as secretary.
The panel has to conclude its assignment within two weeks, the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) said last night.
The crisis blew over on August 12 when a meeting of the institution’s Governing Council get rid of Ogundipe for suspected financial abnormalities.
Shoyombo appointed as acting VC by Babalakin .
Ogundipe’s exclusion challenged by some members and non -members of the university community who said the Governing Council did not follow due process.
Babalakin insisted that it did and claimed that Ogundipe accused by the Council for careless misconduct of University funds.
He said Ogundipe refurbished his official quarters for N49 million without endorsement from Council and allocated N41 million to the University Bursar to renew his house to cover up.
