Protests erupt in OAU as school panel blocks legal representation for sex-for-mark victim

A mild protest erupted at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, after the investigative panel set up by the school management to look into the sex-for-mark scandal denied the victim legal representation.

Reports say the panel set up to probe scandal involving Ms. Monica Osagie and Prof. Richard Akindele of the Department of Accounting, also denied other concerned members including a representative of the National Human Rights Commission entry into the venue of the sitting.

However, the move was rejected by lawyers representing Osagie led by a gender activist and Executive Director of Women Advocates, Research and Documentation Centre, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi.

Read also: SEX-FOR-MARK SCANDAL: Activist reveals why victim set-up lecturer

In a telephone interview with the press, Dr Akiode-Afolabi said; “The Secretary of the panel came to meet us in front of the OAU Amphitheatre and did not want to disclose the venue. For now, we don’t know where the venue will be and the panel is insisting that lawyers should not follow Monica Osagie into the venue as they don’t want any lawyer to be with them.

“The NHRC is also well represented here as an independent observer. But I have insisted that she won’t go there without her lawyers. But after our protest, they have now agreed that two lawyers from our end should be there. But we don’t know where they are going to sit.”

Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi had earlier revealed why her client Osagie resorted to self-help over the scandal involving Professor Akindele which has dominated the media in recent weeks

According to her, Osagie, “resorted to self-help” by setting-up the lecturer through audio recording after two lecturers she approached for intervention disappointed her.

 

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