UI ordered to halt eviction of lecturer ‘sacked for refusing to vacate office’

The National Industrial Court in Ibadan has instructed the University of Ibadan to suspend the eviction of a lecturer sacked from her official residence, pending the determination of a lawsuit.

The court said on Monday that the ejection of Adenike Ogunshe, a doctor and lecturer from the department of microbiology, can only be carried out after her lawsuit has been determined.

Femi Aborisade, counsel to the claimant, appealed that Ogunshe should be allowed to remain in her residence.

Ogunshe’s counsel said the termination of his client’s appointment was “unconstitutional, unlawful and a violation of her constitutionally guaranteed right to life, natural justice, and fair hearing”.

He urged the court to reinstate his client to her position without any loss of earnings, salaries, and allowances.

Aborisade added that respondents should be made to pay N8 million as general damages, for failing to give the equitable three months’ notice before termination of the claimant’s appointment.

Firstina Kola-Olalere, the presiding judge, instructed the institution to suspend the eviction of Ogunshe until the court resolves the case, and adjourned the next hearing till January 19, 2017.

TheCable Lifestyle reported in September that Ogunshe, who has taught at the university for 15 years, was sacked for refusing to vacate her office which was termed a preparatory room.

The doctor of microbiology had informed our reporter that she had been receiving death threats since 2006 over her refusal to exit the office.

“I was asked to move out of my office to another office. The first time, they said that the reason they wanted me to move out was that they wanted a resident technologist to stay in my office and I told them that I had a security issue which would make it difficult for me to move out because the case is with the Nigeria Police.

“The university of Ibadan security took me to Sango police station with their van in 2006 when I started getting death threats, at a point I received a blood-written letter and the DPO asked for the location of my office and house.

“I told them everything and he told them then that if anything happened to me, there would be a case against UI,” Ogunshe had said in an interview with TheCable Lifestyle.