The Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, has dismissed two of its senior lecturers for misconduct, including inhuman treatment, financial impropriety, and sexual harassment, as applicable.
The lecturers are the Dean of the School of Agriculture, Epe Campus, Prof. Olatunji Tajudeen Abanikanda, and Dr Khadeejah Kareem-Ibraheem, a female and Coordinator of the Department of Animal Sciences at the same School of Agriculture, Epe Campus.
In a statement signed by the Registrar of LASU, Mr Emmanuel Fanu, the university took the decision at its 143rd statutory meeting held on Thursday, 3rd July 2025.
He stated that the university’s Governing Council had approved the dismissal of the two academic members of staff.
He explained that the Council considered the report of the Joint Council-Senate Disciplinary Committee and upheld its recommendations to dismiss the two lecturers.
According to the statement, Abanikanda was accused of subjecting 400-level students of the School of Agriculture to inhumane treatment by keeping them on the school farm from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. without break, food, or water, even during heavy rain that lasted from 4:45 p.m. to after 6:00 p.m.—an action deemed prejudicial to the security of the university.
Abanikanda was also accused of sexual harassment of female students of the school, and of subjecting staff members and students to emotional and physical trauma using threats, derogatory utterances, and profane expletives—acts considered unbecoming of a public officer of the university.
Fanu added that the dismissed professor was equally accused of unauthorised collection of money from staff and students of the School of Agriculture, in violation of the university’s regulations.
Regarding the second lecturer, the Registrar stated that Dr Kareem-Ibraheem was dismissed for dereliction of duty as Coordinator of the Department of Animal Sciences, by failing to adhere to the university’s approved guidelines, procedures, and curriculum for the Farm Practical Year (FPY), thereby exposing students to hard labour on the farm.
The Registrar also revealed that the lecturer failed to remit to the university coffers proceeds from the sale of farm produce, amounting to over ₦10.6 million, which was kept in her personal bank account, contrary to the university’s guidelines.
