Osun Poly lecturers halt academic activities

• The halt of academic activities is coming on the heel of the suspension of the rector of the institution, Dr Tajudeen Odetayo

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, Osun State Polytechnic, Iree chapter, has suspended academic activities in the institution.

The Osun Poly ASUP Chairman, Dr Fatai Afolabi, made this known in a speech in Iree on Tuesday.

The development is coming on the heel of the suspension of the rector of the institution, Dr Tajudeen Odetayo, and his replacement.

Dr Odetayo was appointed as substantive Rector of the Polytechnic on March 14, 2023 by Governor Ademola Adeleke.

According to a letter dated July 11, signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, M. K. Jimoh which was obtained by WITHIN NIGERIA on Monday, it added that he was suspended for abuse of office and misappropriation of fund.

It reads; “You are hereby suspended as the Rector of Osun State Polytechnic, sequel to the strong allegations of financial recklessness, corruption, misappropriation of fund, abuse of office among others.

“You are to proceed on suspension immediately, while investigation into the allegations leveled against you commences soon”.

In another letter dated same day signed by the Permanent Secretary, the state government appointed Alabi Kehinde as acting rector with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, the halt of academic activities in the institution may not be unconnected with the suspension of the rector.

In another story, no fewer than three students of the Osun State College of Health Technology, Ilesa, have been shot by gunmen suspected to be cultists near the institution’s campus.

WITHIN NIGERIA learnt that the incident reportedly occurred on Sunday at a barber’s shop in Amuta Junction, Ilesa, where the victims had gone to charge their mobile phones.

Sources in the school disclosed that the victims, a male student and two females, after being shot at, sustained serious injuries and had to be rushed to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, for treatment.

Meanwhile, four suspected cultists have been arrested by operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit of the State Police Command and members of Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service in Osogbo.