“Keeping 400 level students on the farm from 6:30am to 10pm without break, food, and water even during torrential rainfall that lasted between 4:45 p.m. to after 6pm; over ₦10.6 million fraud,” Registrar and Secretary to Council, Emmanuel Fanu, gives details
The Lagos State University (LASU) has announced the dismissal of two senior lecturers for gross misconduct, involving sexual harassment and fraud.
The dismissal was approved at the LASU Governing Council’s 143rd Statutory Meeting held on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
According to a statement signed by the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Emmanuel Fanu, the two lecturers were found guilty of inhumane treatment of students, sexual harassment, and financial impropriety.
Fanu, in the statement made available to newsmen, said one of the dismissed academic staff members is Dr Olatunji Abanikanda, the Dean of the Epe campus of the Department of Agricultural Science, before his dismissal.
He was accused of subjecting students to “degrading and inhumane treatment” on the department’s farm where they do their practical course work.
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Fanu said, “Dean, School of Agriculture, Epe Campus, Prof. Olatunji Tajudeen Fasasi Abanikannda, was dismissed over multiple allegations, including: Subjecting 400 Level students of the School of Agriculture to inhumane treatment by keeping them on the farm from 6:30am to 10pm without break, food, and water even during torrential rainfall that lasted between 4:45 p.m. to after 6pm, an action prejudicial to the security of the University. Sexual harassment of female students of the same school. Subjecting staff members and students to emotional and physical trauma using threats, curses, derogatory utterances, and profane expletives on them, an act unbecoming of a public officer of the University. Unauthorised collection of money from staff and students of the School of Agriculture, contrary to university regulations.”
Also, the other lecturer, the Coordinator, Department of Animal Sciences, School of Agriculture, Epe Campus, Dr Khadeejah Kareem-Ibraheem, was dismissed for alleged dereliction of duty by failing to adhere to the university’s approved guidelines, procedures and curriculum.
Kareem-Ibraheem’s alleged offences also include “Failure to remit to the University coffers, proceeds from the sale of farm produce (amounting to over ₦10.6 million), which was kept in her personal bank account, as against the University guidelines.”
“These acts, tantamount to ‘Serious Misconduct’, are in contravention of the University’s Conditions of Service for Senior Staff (2017, as amended),” Fanu said.
The University Management reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the integrity of academic and administrative standards.
A report by SaharaReporters had earlier on May 27 showed that the management of Lagos State University (LASU) dismissed Professor O.T.F. Abanikanda from his role as Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture following allegations of degrading and inhumane treatment of students at the university’s school farm.
Sources had revealed that Dr. Oladele Ojuromi has been appointed as the new Dean of the Faculty.
This decision came after the Take-It-Back (TIB) Movement raised concerns about the harsh and unacceptable conditions students were subjected to while living and working on the farm.
His sack has sparked a spontaneous joyful reaction by students. One of the joyous students said, “After TIB’s intervention in the ongoing LASU crisis, the management relieved Prof. O.T.F. Abanikanda of his duty and appointed Dr. Oladele Ojuromi as the new Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture.”
“You can see the joy on the students’ faces! Abanikanda has been a tyrant for five years and a burden on the students,” another student said.
“The case was brought to the office of the Lagos TIB coordinator, and we took it upon ourselves to act. Victory is ours.”
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Southwest Zone D, had, on May 24, 2025, issued a scathing condemnation of Prof Abanikanda over what it described as a “consistent pattern of tyranny, intimidation, and abuse of power” spanning more than two decades.
The students’ body alleged, in a statement to Platforms Africa that Prof. Abanikanda had cultivated a legacy of authoritarianism dating back to 2002 during his time at the Faculty of Management Sciences.
NANS described the dean’s leadership style as “unprofessional and inhumane,” accusing him of fostering a toxic environment detrimental to both students and academic staff.
“This tyranny must no longer be tolerated,” the students’ union declared, urging the university management and Lagos State Government to launch an urgent investigation and take decisive disciplinary action against the embattled professor.
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