The Dr. Wale-Babalakin-led Governing Council of the University of Lagos has disclosed the reason why the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Toyin Ogundipe, was fired.

Dr. Baba who made the disclosure via a statement titled, “I prefer to be probed by Professor of Public Sector Accounting, not Chemistry lecturer, says Prof Ogundipe in defense at UNILAG Council Meeting,” said prof. Ogundipe was sacked following allegations of reckless spending of the varsity’s funds and breach of due process. In his words:

According to the council, the Dr. Saminu Dagara-led committee that probed Ogundipe reported that the VC and some members of his management team spent N57.9m on foreign trips, while they bought two vehicles for N52.08m using “a contract splitting device that is very illegal.” In addition, it was reported that Ogundipe’s management purportedly spent N52.2m on waste management and janitorial services “in breach of procurement law and practices” and the VC was spent N112.4m to renovate the official living quarters of three principal staff, including the VC’s lodge, renovated with N49.4m.

According to the committee, the N112.4m was without the council’s approval and was far above the VC’s approval limit of N2m.  Prof. Ogundipe was charged for recklessly spending the university’s money without giving any accounts in the last six months with the following instance contained in the statement:

“For instance, while the council approved spending towards staff palliative for COVID-19, he claimed he spend N67m on this without providing any breakdown of his spending.”

However, all efforts made to get Ogundipe’s reactions to the allegations on Sunday proved abortive.