LASU In Alleged Certificate Racketeering Mess, LAHA Summons VC, Commissioner For Tertiary Education

By Akinwale Kasali

Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University is presently enmeshed in an alleged certificate racketeering.

The Lagos State House of Assembly has, consequently, summoned her.

The Lawmakers resolved to invite Olatunji-Bello alongside the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Akibu, the Senate of the  Institution and other top staff over allegations of extortion and Certificate racketeering leveled against the school, with the sole aim of digging out the truth.

Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, LAHA Speaker, during Plenary Tuesday, noted that the source of the allegation leveled against the Principal Officers of the institution could be suspicious and not trustworthy because of its tendency to blackmail. He stated that the concerned officials of the institution be invited so that facts about the allegation could be unearthed for the sake of the reputation of the school.

In his submission, Obasa said, “I agree that the Committee should invite those to be invited to establish facts about the allegation, but we must not because of that, destroy our Institution’s reputation”, Obasa, an alumnus of the institution, said adding that if anyone is found wanting, such a person should be sanctioned.

Moving the motion under ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’, Hon. Owolabi Ajani told his colleagues that there was a need to invite the Commissioner, the VC and others for the House to unravel the facts behind the allegation.

Ajani noted that LASU had maintained a high level of integrity over the years adding that this must be sustained.

While Hon. Sa’ad Olumoh urged that the investigation should involve people in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) unit of the institution, Hon. Desmond Elliot and his colleague, Ladi Ajomale, who said they attended LASU, supported that the allegation be investigated.