Professor Joseph Opefeyitimi, a Lecturer of Obafemi Awolowo University who was accused of sexual molestation and battery of a student, has responded to the allegation, saying that the act was consensual.

Boluwatife Hannah had written to the Department of Linguistics and African Studies requesting for a probe after alleging that the act took place on March 18, 2022 after he paid a visit to the lecturer’s office.

According to a letter addressed to the department by the Professor, he made it known that Hannah has been his girl friend for four years and they were already planning marriage before the recent allegation, he further stated that all what happened that day was consensual and initiated by Hannah.

“Truly, Babafemi Boluwatife Hannah was in my office on Thursday the 17th March, 2022. All that happened in my office was consensual and she was the one that called for it. I never knew she had a grand master’s plan for me.
“I thought as husband and wife to be right from before she got admission into our department, I could leave her to treat me the way she wanted. I called her as a result of the situation in town because she lives there and she actually came to update me.
”There are too many lies in her write-ups. For instance, while paragraph three was true, paragraph four was self-contradictory. Again, her claim of indecent assault in paragraph eleven that I, “sexually assaulted, molested and violated” her between 1:23 pm she entered my office and the 2 pm I had to take my son from school, which I did, must be substantiated because it turned the whole allegation from civility, tending towards criminality. This is why I am involving a lawyer.
“I am suggesting by way of appeal that my lawyer be made to witness all proceedings relating to this case. In fact, I will be grateful if he could be made to sit if only as an observer at today’s 12 noon Departmental panel.
“In summary, Boluwatife is my wife to be. She was responsible for all that happened in my office on that day. If after four years of dating, waiting to consummate our union, she suddenly turned around to be cleverly taking pictures of the body parts as evidence to indict me, I must not handle the case alone, since my wife at home is privy to our relationship.
“Since our relationship was being planned towards marriage after her graduation, I already took my wife into confidence on in, even though the lady wants the relationship to be kept secret. It is now I can understand why she wanted the relationship kept secret and that she had never been sincere.
“I want the panels to discountenance and dismiss the petition. It is a ploy to escape marrying me despite her promise and all the assistance I have rendered to her including the awards she had taken within the period of her studentship”

Kayode Ajani

OduduwaNews gathered that on Tuesday, 28th September, 2021 ADESINA Omowumi Aishat, a 24-year old, female, Part 4 student of the Department of Foreign Languages reported to the Health Centre and was given wrong medication after which she was transferred to Seven Day Adventist Hospital were she was said to be dead on arrival.

A release by the Public Relations Officer of the University, Abiodun Olarewaju, stated that “the Management understands the grief resulting from this untimely death within the community and sympathises with the parents, friends, colleagues and the entire students of the University on this sad loss, and prays for the repose of her soul.

“However, Management condemns in strong terms the continuous and uncontrolled protests by the students culminating in unbridled brigandage, blocking the Ife/Ibadan and Ife/Ede highways and other adjoining roads that could be used as alternative routes, and engaging in other acts that are detrimental to their health and the safety of the generality of the people.

“Therefore, having exhausted all necessary avenues to call the students to order and allow normalcy to return to the Campus and its environs, the authorities of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, have accordingly closed down the School until further notice. This is to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

“In view of this, all students are hereby directed to vacate their halls of residence and the Campus latest by 12:00 noon on Saturday, 2nd October, 2021.

“Consequently, the swearing-in of the newly elected Students’ Union officials has been put on hold, pending a review of the situation.

“In the meantime, the University management has put in place the machinery to unravel the circumstances surrounding the immediate and remote cause(s) of the crisis.”

Kayode Ajani

On Thursday, 30th of September, 2021, the student community of the institution lost a part four student of the Department of Foreign Language due to alleged negligence of the University Health workers.

According to OduduwaNews correspondent at the University, it was learnt that late Aisha Adesina was an Asthma patient who visited the University after feeling a little bit weak but was given a wrong medicine which complicated her initial ailment.

According to a release signed by the Students’ Union President and Secretary General Elect, they condemned the attitude of the Doctors and other health workers in the University Health Centre in strong terms and demanded that the University Management should investigate the death of Aisha and check the excesses of the Health Center Workers as the incident would not be the first occcurence.

“We call on the University Management to investigate the death of one of our colleagues and punish all health workers who failed in performing their duties when Aishat needed attendance which they failed to give but only transferred her in last moment to Seventh Day Hospital where she eventually died.

“Without a proper and quick investigation and punishment meted accordingly, the University Management will be endangering the lives of students. We cannot let our lives become toys. We will have to protest this, as we cannot afford to keep losing our lives like fowls”

OduduwaNews gathered that the students assembled at the University Health Centre on Thursday evening till the early hour of Friday, October 1st, 2021 to protest the death of their fellow student, while they also scheduled a protest for today, 1st of October to register their displeasure to the University.

Kayode Ajani