When the suspended Rector, Dr. Tajudeen Odetayo, and acting Rector, Mr. Kehinde Adeyemi, of Osun State Polytechnic Iree, showed up to the Rector’s office to take over the school’s administration, it was like a theater of absurdity.
With a document containing the ruling of the Lagos Division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in hand, the suspended rector, Dr. Tajudeen Odetayo, walked majestically into the office, an eyewitness told WITHIN NIGERIA. Mr. Kehinde Adeyemi, the acting rector, walked into the office a short time later.
Following the development, the Osun State Government via the Ministry of Education ordered the closure of the state polytechnic in Iree for two weeks and also immediately froze the school accounts, making it two occasions in recent weeks that academic activities of the school would be suspended.
Prior to being removed by Senator Ademola Adeleke after he was elected governor of Osun State, Odetayo had been named by the previous governor, Gboyega Oyetola, as the polytechnic’s sixth substantive Rector. In a follow-up report, WITHIN NIGERIA found that the Adeleke-led administration had reversed course on March 10, 2023, after reappointing Leye Aina for a four-year term just prior to the most recent development.
Recall that Dr. Tajudeen Odetayo was allegedly accused of financial irresponsibility and abuse of office on July 24, 2023, which led to his suspension by the State Government. After that, a committee was formed to look into the allegations made against him, and Mr. Kehinde Adeyemi was chosen to fill the position temporarily.
ASUP chair, Afolabi accuses Adeleke of nepotism
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Iree Chapter held a protest after Dr. Tajudeen Odetayo’s suspension. The protesting employees blocked up the school’s gates and demanded that Odetayo be promptly appointed Rector, claiming that the suspension was a clear violation of protocol.
Under the direction of Mr. Fatai Afolabi, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics’ Iree Chapter charged that the State Government chose an ineligible replacement for the suspended rector.
Afolabi asserted that the suspended Rector was never forced to appear before a panel or investigation and that he was never query while accusing the state administration of upsetting the tranquility at Iree Polytechnic. He was invited and given instructions to make the person they had chosen as acting rector now the deputy rector, which was the main reason for his departure.
According to Afolabi, the candidate the governor chose as acting rector ran for and lost the position of deputy rector. If the rector is dismissed, our deputy rector on the ground should take his place. According to the rules, the most senior chief lecturer will be named acting rector in the absence of the deputy rector.
Akinleye responsible for Odetayo’s suspension – Unconfirmed claims
Unconfirmed reports claimed that Tajudeen Odetayo’s suspension as rector was initiated by Alhaji Kazeem Akinleye, the chief of staff to governor of Osun, who was unable to have his preferred lecturer Kehinde Adeyemi elected as a deputy rector at the in-house election.
However, a remark made to journalists that was attributed to Mr. Fatai Afolabi and shared a remarkable resemblance to the aforementioned claim.
“The person who was appointed is not ranked from one to fifty among the key lecturers. The fact that he is from Ede is the only factor that makes him eligible. With regard to Iree Poly appointments and business ties, the governor is nepotistic. It is impossible for the governor to fill the school with Ede natives everywhere. Has Ede cast a vote for him alone? Everyone cast their vote for him,” Afolabi remarked.
Investigation Panel snubs Odetayo, refuses to invite petitioner
Recall that the panel was established and given a two-week deadline to submit its findings by Hon. Diran Ayanbeku, Chairman of the Institution’s Governing Council, on August 8, 2023.
Odetayo wrote the panel on Thursday, August 17, asking to be invited for a fair hearing, according to information provided by one of the panelists.
Another panel member allegedly stated that the panel issued an invitation letter to Odetayo at noon on Saturday, August 19, but no one was home to accept the letter, according to Osun Defender.
According to a report by the local media outlet Osun Defender, which this reporter was able to access, neither the petitioner nor the suspended rector were invited to appear before the panel, which was presided over by Mr. Muritala Jimoh, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education.
Odetayo heads to Court, secures interim order restraining Adeleke, others from appointing rector
The Osun State Governor, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, and 14 other individuals have been ordered by the Lagos Division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria to halt all actions regarding the nomination of the rector for the Osun State Polytechnic OSPOLY, Iree.
Following an Experte Motion filed by Dr. Tajudeen Odetayo, the suspended Rector of the Polytechnic, Justice O. A. Ogunbowale issued the ruling.
In the Motion Experte filed by his attorney, Mr. Rasheed Oluwofobi, Odetayo requested a temporary restraining order barring Adeleke and other relevant parties from acting on the letter of suspension dated July 11, 2023 and the query dated August 1, 2023 until the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction before the court was heard and decided.
According to the ruling of the judge, “The hearing notice is hereby order to be served on all respondents in the suit, and an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants/respondents from taking any further action on the matter or anything relating thereto until the determination of the Motion On Notice is hereby granted.”
Startled when my suspension letter arrived, says Odetayo
Odetayo expressed surprise that he was suspended without being questioned to officials in the rector’s office.
Having obtained a court injunction preventing the governor from selecting a new rector, he claimed to have returned to the institution.
I was very startled when my letter of suspension arrived because I had not previously been questioned or asked to attend a meeting.The court issued an injunction over the matter, and the execution has been stayed, therefore I am returning to work.
I want to thank our governor for letting the rule of law take its course because I know he is a listener. I’m back to continue my efforts to advance the polytechnic, said Odetayo.
Odetayo’s return is forceful invasion, says acting rector, Adeyemi
However, the institution’s acting rector, Adeyemi, issued a statement urging restraint and referring to Odetayo’s return as a “forceful invasion.”
The message continued, in part, “As the Acting Rector of the Polytechnic, I appeal to members of the Polytechnic Community to maintain calm following the forced invasion of the office of the Osun State Polytechnic Iree’s Rector by the suspended Rector of the school.
“I beg you to maintain your composure and carry out your routine tasks without raising any objections. The administration has taken action to guarantee that things return to normal.