SEX-FOR-MARK SCANDAL: Prof. failed me because I refused his s3xual demands, victim says

Ms. Monica Osagie, the victim in the viral sex-for-mark scandal has revealed that Professor Richard Akindele of the Department of Management and Accounting, Obafemi Awolowo University failed her because she refused his sexual demands.

The victim who is a post-graduate student made the claim through her lawyer moments after she appeared before the committee set up by the university to investigate the scandal which has rocked the institution.

Ms. Osagie alongside the Executive Director of WARD-C, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, as well as another lawyer from the centre, were allowed inside the venue of the sitting while some others were not granted entry.

The victim appeared before the panel at the Pro-Chancellor’s Lodge on the campus with another lecturer, who the female student claimed she reported the matter to for his intervention.

There was heavy security presence at the committee sitting as some journalists and members of the Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre were not allowed into the lodge.

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

Four hours after the meeting, Osagie who was sandwiched in between two lawyers as she emerged from the lodge was quickly ushered into a waiting SUV as she refused to speak to the press.

While narrating what transpired during the meeting, Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi who decried the closed-door policy of the investigative committee said Ms. Osagie scored 45 in the course which Akindele taught her and not 33 that the lecturer claimed that she scored.

Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi said; “The meeting was a fact finding one and they told us that they had not got to the level of legal representation: Because of that, we were there as observers.

“The other lecturer also brought a lawyer, but the committee refused to allow him (lawyer) inside. So, lawyers were not allowed to appear as legal representation, but we were allowed to observe the proceedings.

“The committee members asked her (Osagie) to narrate her ordeal with the professor which she did. She explained what happened and she didn’t deny the recording (leaked telephone conversation).

“She affirmed that the recording took place and she justified why she resorted to self-help because there was no effective support coming from the university.

“The incident happened towards the end of last year (2017). It was not two years ago. She has completed her programme. She passed the course that we are talking about. She didn’t fail.

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

“The school reaffirmed that she passed and that she scored 45 and not 33; and the man (prof.) did not give her mark. Apparently the man was using the 33 as a bait to get her.

“She talked about her understanding of what happened. She talked about the fact that she is a good student and that she passed all her courses.

“That she shouldn’t have failed the course and that she checked and found out that she passed and that the 33 the man talked about must have been his (lecturer) imagination.

“It must also have been a way of negotiating with her to get her to bow to his wish, which was the reason she recorded the conversation.

Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi however said that she is optimistic that the outcome of the investigative panel would serve as a lesson to other lecturers who also engage in such act.

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