FUTA: VC Still Innocent Until Proven Guilty By EFCC, says Deputy Vice Chancellor

The Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Ondo state, has said its embattled Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola, who is currently under the watch of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is still innocent until proven guilty.

Prof. Olatunde Arayela, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the institution, made the disclosure on Tuesday at a press briefing with journalists in Akure following the invitation of the Vice Chancellor by the anti-graft agency to its office in Ibadan, Oyo State for questioning over allegations of financial mismanagement.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) in the institution which comprised: Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (SSANU), National Association Academic Technologists (NAAT), and Non-Acadamic Staff Union (NASU) had last week began a protest alleging that the finance of the school was squandered and misappropriated.

The three union members during the protest jointly called for the removal of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola and the Bursar, Dr Emmanuel Oresegun whom they both alleged of fraudulent practices in the finance of the institution.

However, speaking on behalf of the management at the briefing, Prof. Arayela said the protesting union members should allow the anti-graft agency do its job rather than preempting the law.

He added that the Vice Chancellor (Prof. Daramola) had already written his statement over the allegations levied against him and also presented documents to backup his claims.

According to him, the management of the institution suspected two non- teaching staff unions of orchestrating the petition before the anti-graft agency based on a audit report query issued to the school.

“It is the opinion of the University management that since the Vice Chancellor has not been pronounced guilty by the law enforcement agency, EFCC, he should reasonably and by the provision of the law of the land be adjudged innocent. Union cannot preempt the law enforcement agency or be judge on their own case.

“It is the opinion of the university management that the law enforcement agent, EFCC should be allowed to do its job.

“The University Governing Council, and the University Management led by Prof. Adebiyi Daramola have consistent been mindful in management of men and material resources, prudent spending and accountability”. Prof.. Arayela stated.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor, however, expressed grieved that the implementation of the Federal Government policy directive by the University Management concerning the restructuring of its erstwhile Staff Primary School was a major perceived offence of the Vice Chancellor being used by the union members.

“The National Universities Commission drew the attention of all Vice Chancellors to the position of the Federal Government that Staff Schools are established as private enterprise to be funded by the institutions that establish them, and as such, the burden of the wage bill of staff in the Staff School not be transferred to the Federal Government”.

The Daily Times gathered that this Federal Government policy carried out by the institution had led to the sack of no fewer than Forty-Four members of staff of the University’s Staff Primary School.

“On this basis, the university disengaged the teachers in its staff Primary School and opened the window for them to retain their job by applying for same under the services of the School’s Management Board” Prof. Arayela said.

He further added that the one year productivity allowance of welfare package being demand by the members of the unions from the university’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) cannot be materialized as it is contrary to the financial regulations.

The management has further assured that all issues ranging fire between it and the three unions of the institution would soon be resolved amicably.

The three protesting unions in the University has vowed to continue lock down the university campus until the vice chancellor and the bursar stepped down from their office pending the outcome of the EFCC investigation.

Mr. Dele Durojaiye, the institution Chairman of SSANU had insisted that if the two main principal of the university didn’t stepped down they would continue to use all its apparatus to defend themselves.