Sex-for- grade video: UNILAG sets up panel to probe lecturers
The management of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) yesterday set up a panel headed by a Professor of Public Law and incumbent Dean of the Faculty of Law, Ayodele Atsenuwa, to probe the allegation of sexual harassment levelled against its lecturers, Dr. Boniface Igbeneghu and Dr. Samuel Oladipo as well as other related cases.
Dr. Boniface Igbeneghu of the Department of European Languages and Integrated Studies, Faculty of Arts and Dr. Samuel Oladipo of the Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, have been suspended by the university management following their alleged involvement in a sexfor-grade documentary published on Monday by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
The documentary was aimed at uncovering lecturers in some West African universities who harass students for sex in exchange for grades or marks.
BBC Africa Eye, had after interviewing several students who had been abused, sent undercover journalists posing as students to lecturers, who were in the habit of harassing students.
Dr. Boniface was caught on camera making sexual demands to offer admission to the undercover journalist who disguised as a 17-year-old admission seeker while Dr. Samuel was also featured in the full version of the video making sexual advances towards her with the promise of helping with her studies.
In addition to their suspension, the lecturers were also barred from the university academic areas until conclusion of the panel’s assignment. Three branches of Access Bank were on Wednesday sealed in Kaduna metropolis. The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KDIRS) said the three branches of the bank in Kaduna metropolis were sealed over non-remittance of over N175 million Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE).
KDIRS Secretary and Legal Adviser, Mr. Francis Kozah, told newsmen that the branches would remain closed till the bank pays all tax liabilities to the Kaduna State government.
He said, “we conducted a tax audit from 2011 to 2016, which revealed that Access Bank has not been remitting PAYE and withholding taxes.
“We are able to establish an unremitting liability of PAYE and withholding taxes of over N175 million within the period.
“KDIRS communicated to Access Bank the findings, made demand for payment and held several meetings with the management of the bank, but the bank refused to pay.
“We are left with no other option but to approach the court for a warrant to restrain the bank, and the court granted the order to seal all the branches in the state.’’
He advised all corporate entities,
A statement by the university’s Principal Assistant Registrar, Communications Unit, Mrs. C. Taiwo Oloyede, said the panel set up earlier to investigate the allegation of sexual harassment involving a Professor in the university in June 2018, still subsists and awaits further information that will aid in concluding the investigation.
The university urged students and members of staff who have relevant information to come forward, adding that their protection is assured. “We firmly reassure all our students, staff, alumni, parents and guardians that this matter will be tackled with every sense of responsibility, and the seriousness it deserves. The whole process will be transparent and appropriate sanctions will be meted out to anyone found culpable,” the statement read. including professional bodies operating in the state to come forward and settle all tax related issues with government or risk being sealed off.
“We are going to be fair to all taxpayers, but we will remain firm and decisive in ensuring that all taxpayers pay what is due to the state government,” he said.
KDIRS Head of Enforcement, Ado Garba, also said that the revenue agency is currently finalising tax audit of some corporate entities, including individuals.
He said the agency will go after anyone, banks, companies, professional bodies and other businesses found withholding tax.
“We are open to negotiation with Access Bank, but I assure you that we will only open the branches if the management settles the tax liabilities, including N250,000 cost incurred in sealing the branches,” he said.
The bank branches are located along Bida Road, Ahmadu Bello Way and Isa Kaita Road.
But when contacted, a senior management staff of Access Bank who prefers anonymity said to our correspondent: “it’s been resolved. We get these misunderstandings once in a while but it has been taken care of and business activities have been normalized across our branches in the state.”