Police take over UNILAG as VC crisis deepens

University of Lagos UNILAG

The police have increased their presence around the Senate building of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) following the crisis rocking the institution.

Chairman of UNILAG Governing Council Wale Babalakin had held a meeting on Wednesday at the National Universities Commission headquarters in Abuja where it was decided that UNILAG vice-chancellor Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe be removed from office.

Prof. Theophilus Soyombo of the Faculty of Science was announced early Thursday as his replacement in a statement by the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Oladejo Azeez.

The Nation reports that the school’s Senate is meeting at Ade Ajayi Main Auditorium to discuss Ogundipe’s sudden removal.

Police have restricted access to the Senate building, the administrative hub of the university housing the offices of the vice-chancellor, other principal officers as well as the Senate chamber.

It was also gathered that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) UNILAG branch has warned Soyombo not to try to force his resumption as acting vice-chancellor.

The union is said to have scheduled a congress to debate Ogundipe’s removal.