Two senior lecturers of the University of Ibadan, Miracle Oyewola and Dare Ademola allegedly involved in illegal financial transactions have demanded an apology from over a former colleague threatening to sue him over PREMIUM TIMES’ publications.
OYOINSIGHT.COM recalls that last year Premium Times reported how the financial transactions of a conference meant for the department of mechanical engineering, were allegedly devoid of transparency.
Amongst those accused of involvement are Messrs Oyewola and Ademola, who headed the department from 2011- 2012 and 2012-2016 respectively.
In 2018, Chukwuemeka Diji, a PhD holder, who succeeded Mr Ademola, had written the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), demanding an investigation into the ‘corrupt practices’ in the department.
He also asked the commission to compel the university to probe the organisation of the Energy, Technology and Management (ETM) conference and its account since 2012- 2016.
In two separate letters dated June 29, Messrs Oyewola and Ademola demanded an apology from Mr Diji over this Premium Times publications.
Copies of the letters signed by their lawyer, Oladepo Abidemi of Chief Ladosu Ladapo Chambers read in part:
“It is in the brief of our client that Premium Times Newspaper relied on information supplied by you to publish libelous statements against him on the 8h day of November 2019 and 23 September 2019 and has imputed to his character and reputation negatively in the University of Ibadan and the general public.”
According to the duo, the publications, rooted in falsehood have dealt serious harm to their image and reputation of the University community and deterred friends and colleagues from associating with them.
“We have the instruction of our client to demand that you tender an unreserved apology for supplying Premium Times Newspaper with information used in several publications, especially the publication dated the 8th day of November 2019.”
“TAKE NOTICE that if you fail, neglect or refuse to tender the requisite apology within Fourteen (14) days of your receipt of this letter, we would have no choice but to institute appropriate legal actions against you,” a copy of the letter read.
When contacted for his reaction on Friday, Mr Diji, who now works at a Ugandan University, declined comments.
“Since the case has been reported to an anti-graft agency, I’ll allow them to do their job,” he said in response to an enquiry sent by our reporter.
