ICPC arraigns lecturer over sexual harassment

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has arraigned a lecturer at the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) for demanding sexual and monetary gratification from a female student.

ICPC spokesman, Mrs Azuka Ogugua said the lecturer, Dr Balogun Olaniran, was arraigned before Hon. Justice Osinuga of the Ijebu-Ode High Court, sitting in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State on Monday, 27th March 2023 on one count of violating Section 8(1) (a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

ICPC Counsel, Ogugua stated, told the court how the defendant, Dr Olaniran, while being the Head of the Department of Religious Studies at TASUED sometime between October and November 2021, demanded sexual benefit or the payment of ₦100,000 from a female student with a promise to alter her academic grades.

Part of the charge against him reads, “…..within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, corruptly demanded sexual benefit or payment of the sum of ₦100,000 for himself from … (name withheld), a female student, on account of a favour to be afterwards shown her in the discharge of his official duties as a lecturer and Head of Department of Religious Studies at the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ijebu Ode, to wit, offering to alter her academic grades from fail to pass in courses with codes EDU 311 and EDU 312”.

The defendant, Olaniran pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.

The trial judge, Justice Osinuga admitted the defendant to bail of ₦500,000 with a surety in like sum. The surety, the judge said must provide evidence of three years of tax clearance and evidence of means.

The matter was then adjourned to the 11th of May 2023 for the commencement of trial.