ASUU faults Igbafen’s suspension by AAU

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Benin City zone, at the weekend, condemned the suspension of the chairman of Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Ekpoma chapter, Dr. Monday Igbafen, over alleged sexual harassment.

The coordinator, Fred Esumeh, and four others, in a statement in Benin City, said: “The attention of the zone has been drawn to the purported suspension of the branch chairperson of ASUU, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, M. Igbafen, on the allegation of sexual harassment and sex for marks.

“Having received update on the issue, the zone resolved to condemn in totality the suspension of the branch chairperson of AAU over a case that was previously investigated and closed in 2012,” he said.

According to Esumeh, all actions by the vice chancellor of AAU towards some of the leaders of the union in the institution are to waken and intimidate its members.

“The zone notes the onslaught of the vice chancellor, as it is clear that the he is poised to emasculate the union through the series of queries being handed to some of its leaders at the branch.

“The zone also notes that the branch chairperson was never summoned to the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee of AAU before being summarily pronounced guilty by the same university administration,” he said.

He advised the university’s governing council to take a proper look at the issue and uphold fairness and justice.

Responding, AAU public relations officer, Edward Aihevba, said the issue at stake has nothing to do with ASUU, but an internal affair of AAU.

He added that the school management did not suspend him as the ASUU chairman, but his activities.