The lecturer in the Department of European Languages and Integrated Studies, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr Boniface Igbeneghu, exposed by the BBC Africa Eye video titled “Sex for Grades” has led to his suspension from the university and restrictied from the UNILAG academic area until a probe into his activities has been concluded.
The university, in a statement signed by the Principal Assistant Registrar (Communication Unit), Mrs Taiwo Oloyede, also announced the closure of the UNILAG Staff Club ‘cold room’, where lecturers allegedly sexually harassed students.
In the same vein, Igheneghu, who heads a branch of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, has been asked by the church to step down from ministerial duties as a result of his “unscriptural behaviour” in the video.
UNILAG and the church’s response
In a statement by the The University of Lagos Management, Dr Igbeneghu was suspended from work immediately and barred from the University academic areas while the suspension subsists unless invited by a Panel constituted by the University to investigate the matter. its management noted that Igheneghu would be probed by an investigation panel.
“In addition to this, the University Management has ordered the shutdown of the Staff Club “Cold Room” mentioned in the documentary for further investigation. The so-called “Cold Room” is a Functions Room that may have been abused because this is a deviation from the purpose for which it was created (meetings, seminars, events, etc.).”
While urging other students of the institution to come forward if harassed, the University assures members of the public that any other lecturer mentioned in the full version of the operation which is to be aired later today will also be suspended to ensure a proper investigation is carried out.
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The Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria where Igbeneghu was a head pastor, has also asked the lecturer to “step down from all ministerial assignments.”
In a statement by its National Secretary, Reverend Ikechukwu Ugbaja, the church noted that it does not tolerate sexual harassment, which it described as “heinous and unscriptural”.
The statement reads: “The General public is hereby informed that as a holiness and bible believing church, we do not condone such heinous and unscriptural act among our ministers. We totally dissociate ourselves from the purported conduct of Dr Igbeneghu and promise to take appropriate measure as soon as the ongoing investigation is concluded.
In separate swift reactions, Lecturers and students of UNILAG condemned the sex-for-grade scandal, noting that the culprit should be punished according to the laws of the university and the country.
According to reports, Chairman ASUU, UNILAG Chapter, Dr Dele Ashiru described it as “indecent, unethical and unacceptable”. He noted that one major challenge facing efforts at moping out such a scandal was the reluctance of victims to speak up when sexually harassed. He asked that errant members should be sanctioned, while effective mechanisms should be put in place for victims to speak up without fear of attack.
Students of the institution also condemned the act, which they said should be stamped out in the country’s tertiary institutions.
All eyes will be on the university’s probe panel. The end certainly has not been heard of the matter.
