Sex for Grade: Umar, 15 Others in ABU Will Be Investigated And Prosecuted – Gov el-Rufai

• The lecturer was sacked by ABU for sexual misconduct and later employed by KASU.
• KASU admitted error in appointing Umar without investigation.

Kaduna Governor, Nasir el-Rufai has said that the suspension of Mr. Bala Umar, a lecturer from Kaduna State University (KASU) and sack 15 other staff of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria will be followed up with investigation and prosecution by the Attorney General of the state.

The governor stated this via his personal Twitter handle.

READ: #SexforGrades: You Have A Case to Answer, Fani-Kayode Tells Dr Boniface

“KADUNA UPDATE: The suspension of Mr. Umar by KASU is the first step. He & 15 lecturers sacked by nearby ABU Zaria for sexual harassment will be fully investigated & prosecuted by the Attorney General of Kaduna State. We must face evil & end this scourge in our state!!,” he wrote.

KADUNA UPDATE: The suspension of Mr. Umar by KASU is the first step. He & 15 lecturers sacked by nearby ABU Zaria for sexual harassment will be fully investigated & prosecuted by the Attorney General of Kaduna State. We must face evil & end this scourge in our state!! @DrHadiza https://t.co/Jw58sAHpc7

— Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai (@elrufai) October 24, 2019

KASU had on Wednesday suspended Bala, popularly known as A.B. Umar, for allegedly soliciting sex for grade. The school management in a meeting on Wednesday said a committee was set up to investigate the allegations against Umar, following a one-man protest at KASU by a female graduate of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

It was gathered that the lecturer was sacked by ABU for sexual misconduct and later employed by KASU.

KASU’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC), Academics, Prof. Abdullahi Ashafa, who is the chairman of the committee said KASU had zero tolerance for such misconduct by its members of staff and would deal appropriately with anyone found wanting. He therefore said the university was proceeding with investigations on the allegations leveled against the lecturer.

“Sometimes in the first week of October, a lady who was an ex-student of ABU twitted that former staff of the institution who is employed by KASU, had sexually harassed her when he was a staff at ABU. She mentioned his name and the vice-chancellor of KASU quickly formed a committee to investigate the issue, not only to clear its name but to reassure parents and students who are studying here or intend to study of their safety.

“KASU is building a reputable name as a centre of excellence, so such allegations need to be investigated and cleared.”

READ: #SexforGrades: UNILAG Lecturer Filmed Sexually Harassing ‘Student’

While noting that the incident did not occur in KASU, but the way the issue is being portrayed looks like KASU is providing a safe haven for those whose appointments had been terminated elsewhere.

“Umar was appointed in error; there was no much investigation to ascertain what made him leave ABU at the age of 54,” he said.