Certificate racketeering investigation: LASU denies cover-up, confirms removal of Olumoko, Dean, student affairs
The management of Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, has confirmed removing the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Tajudeen Olumoko, as part of the ongoing investigation into the allegation of certificate racketeering in the institution.
Mrs Oluwayemisi Thomas-Onashile, Coordinator, Centre for Information and Public Relations, LASU, made this known in a statement on Friday, in Lagos.
Thomas-Onashile said that the management was not covering up any staff on alleged certificate racketeering which was published recently online.
She said that attention of management had been drawn to recent reports regarding alleged “Certificate Racketeering” and a “sting operation” in the university.
“For emphasis, there has been no “cover up” and there will be no “cover up”.
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“The management has promptly brought the original allegations to the attention of general law enforcement authorities, including the office of the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
“These authorities have not yet concluded their investigations.
“The management does not take such matters lightly.
“Its own inquiries into the allegations will be concluded before the end of 2023,”she said.
This development, it was gathered, followed the story by an online medium which indicted some staff of the university in the illegal act.
The sting operation that was carried out by the DSS to nail those involved in the act was carried out in 2020 following the report by the then Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, SAN, that some persons were selling degree certificates of the university for millions of naira.
It remains unclear why the current Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, did not follow through with the investigations to a logical conclusion.
Thomas-Onashile however said that the Vice-Chancellor, Olatunji-Bello, had approved the appointment of Dr. Surajudeen Fatai as the new Acting Dean, Students’ Affairs Division of the university.
“Fatai is a senior lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, LASU.
“The appointment is for a period of a year, with effect from Nov. 7, 2023 to Nov. 6, 2024,”she said.
