Ede Poly rector accused of appointing son as lecturer without govt approval
A lecturer in the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun state, Barrister Omolade Matthew, has revealed how the rector of the polytechnic, Dr. J.T. Adekolawole Edaogbogun, appointed his biological son, Goodness, as a lecturer without government approval.
In a letter written to the Registrar of the polytechnic by his lawyer, Mr. Soji Oyetayo, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent in Osogbo, Monday, he also alleged that the letter of interdiction issued to him in May 18, 2020 is “unconstitutional, illegal, unlawful and null and void.”
The lecturer was said to have been banned over allegation of plagiarism leveled against him by the polytechnic.
But, he contended that the Registrar of the polytechnic lack the power to issue the letter, alleging that he (the registrar) was acting under the influence of the rector to punish him.
He maintained that he has never committed any offence saying that allegation of plagiarism against him has not been substantiate in any way and the report of the investigation committee was not made known to him, neither was it forwarded to the governing council, before the letter of interdiction was served on him.
“Our client could clearly see the handwriting on the wall that you were acting under the influence of the Rector of the Polytechnic who is hell bent to frustrate and punish our client for an unknown offence.
“The plagiarism talked about was just a figment of the imagination of the said Rector. Our client submitted more than the required publications for his promotion from Lecturer 1 to the position of Senior Lecturer in line with 2013 Scheme of Service for Lecturers promotion.
“The plagiarism alleged is in one of the conference papers which had not even been published but a conference paper prepared by our client for the purpose of post graduate seminar during his master’s programme at the University of Ibadan in 2009.
“The question that arises now is, from where did the allegation of plagiarism come? Up till now this fact had not been made known to our client other than the said Rector who is witch-hunting our client.
“The said Rector of the Polytechnic is trying to punish our client for an unknown offence but for the offence which the said Rector had committed in the past. The following publications attached will show clearly that he had committed the offence of plagiarism which he allegedly accused our client of:
“Under the Federal Polytechnic Act of 1979, it is only the Governing Council of the Polytechnic that has the power to punish, terminate and/or issue any letter of interdiction after our client might have been afforded the opportunity of fair hearing and the report of such hearing deliberated upon at the council meeting.
“As the Registrar of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, you have no power whatsoever under the Act to issue a letter of interdiction to our client. Your said letter referred to above is not only ultra-vires but also unconstitutional, illegal, unlawful and null and void.
“As a Rector, Dr. J.T. Adekolawole Edaogbogun, had committed serious act of misconduct which is inimical to the image of the Civil Service and that of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede. There is documentary evidence to substantiate our allegation of NEPOTISM against him.
“Apart from this, the said Rector appointed Mr. Edaogbogun Goodness, his biological son, with a Master’s Degree without Government approval as Lecturer II on the 9th of March, 2018 when he assumed office instead of right placement in line with the Establishment Rules of the Polytechnic which only qualified Mr. Edaogbogun Goodness to be appointed as Lecturer Ill in the Department of Centre of Innovation Studies (Rectory). Federal Polytechnic, Ede, contrary to the Civil Service Rules.
“The said Rector also gave another appointment to his son, Mr. Edaogbogun Goodness, as the Manager of Weather Station on the 4th day of October, 2019 when his initial appointment had not been confirmed.”
The lecturer, however, threatened to take legal action against the Registrar and the Rector if they fail to withdraw the letter of interdiction served on him within 24 hours after the receipt of the letter written by his lawyer.