OAU Lecturers, workers in violent protest over court remand of ex-VC
Lecturers, students and workers of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ife, Osun State, protest violently on the premises of the Osun State High Court, Ede as Justice David Oladimeji ordered that a former Acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Anthony Elujoba, be remanded at Ilesa Prison.
The former acting VC is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and charges preferred against him include fraud.
Elujoba reportedl paid workers allowances of over N1bn so peace could return to the university.
Elujoba, who acted for less than a year and returned peace to the troubled university after the tenure of the immediate past substantive Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bamitale Omole, ended in a chaos with daily protest.
As the judge rose after his ruling many workers burst into tears while some attacked a relation of Omole, who they said came to the court in solidarity with the bursar of the university, Mrs. Ronke Akeredolu, who is also standing trial alongside Elujoba.
Omole’s relation, an old man with grey hair identified as Pastor Orioke was attacked by the angry workers who deflated the tyres of his SUV.
The pastor was rescued from the fierce grip of the irate workers by some armed policemen after a tough struggle with the workers.
All the workers and the students present were demanding for the unconditional release of Elujoba but nothing was said concerning the bursar.
The workers have resolved to occupy the Ilesa Prison until Elujoba is released.
