From John Adams, Minna
The Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, Niger State, investigation panel set up to look into the sex scandal involving an alleged randy lecturer, Mr. I. G. Yusuf and a 400 level female student of English Language, Miss Mercy Samuel, has recommended suspension, in the first instance, and further disciplinary measures that may include dismissal for the two principal actors.
The panel reached this decision after two weeks of sitting in which submissions were taken from no fewer than 20 people who are directly and indirectly involved in the saga. Submitting its report to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mohammed Nasir Maiturare, the chairman of the panel, Prof. Samuel Kolo Tswanya said that the recommendations were meant to serve as deterrence and to forestall future occurrence of such incident.
In his remark, Prof. Maiturare thanked the committee for a job well done while pledging to thoroughly study and implement the recommendations. Noting that it has become imperative for the university to remain focused in its determination to produce high quality graduates who are worthy in both character and learning, he warned that his management team will not tolerate acts of misconduct by staff and students that tend to tarnish the good image of the university.
It will be recalled that Mr. Yusuf was accused of attempting to have carnal knowledge of Miss Samuel, by piling up emotional pressure on her through alleged victimisation of her in exams. Samuel, in conjunction with his fiancé and his friend, had set up a sex trap into which Yusuf allegedly fell. His naked pictures were thereafter taken and posted on social media.
But in a counter-reaction, Yusuf vehemently denied the allegation of sexual predation. Rather, he claimed to have been kidnapped by the students and forced into the girl’s room before being stripped naked for the social media pictures.
All attempts to get Mr. Yusuf to comment on the panel’s recommendation proved abortive as all his phone lines were switched off, but Miss Samuel, when contacted, elected to wait for the university’s decision. “This is just a recommendation by the panel,” she said. “So I will wait for the final verdict from the university management.”