OSPOLY Concerned Students Condemn Lecturers Over Defamation Of Junior Lecturer In Exam Question

Concerned Students of Osun State Polytechnic Iree (OSPOLY), have condemned the attitude of the course lecturers of Advance Press Law (MAC 410); The Head of Department, Mass Communication, Dr. Tope Abiola and his colleague, Barr. Lawrence Aboderin on the defamation of the character of a junior lecturer of the department, Mr. Adekunle Sikiru, in the ongoing first semester examination.

Our correspondent who sighted the question observed that the examiners held that Mr. Sikiru was raped by two female students, embezzled the department's students association funds as well as an involvement in the matcheting of two male students. The accused lecturer was said to have been in police net over the matter.

The Question reads fully: “ As a Journalist with the Nigerian Tribune Newspapers, you had a scoop that Mr Adekunle Sikiru, a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication was said to have been raped by two female students in the department; Bisola and Asake. He was also said to have embezzled the NAMACOS departmental contributions as the staff Adviser of the students, this led to a chaos in which two members of the association’s executive, Sogo and Immaculate were matched. Mr Adekunle is presently cooling his feet in Iree Police Station on arrest by the School Management," was attempted by hundreds of Higher National Diploma II students who sat for the exam.

Speaking on the issue, a member of the Concerned OSPOLY Students, Comrade Aladetimehin Oluwatobi decried the manner in which the question was set, describing it as libelous and a defamation of character.

Oluwatobi expressed disappointment in the lecturers who he said are expected to be aware of the implications of such acts, for engaging in a move that could forever jeopardise the reputation of the said lecturer.

Speaking in separate telephone interviews with our reporter, some of the students of the school who sighted the questions after the examination said they were still shocked at the development.

The students who prayed for anonymity noted that there must have been a cold war between the Head of Department and the Staff/Students Adviser for such development to happen.

They affirmed that if there was no issue, such information could not be used in an examination question paper.

"Certainly, there is an issue. Our H.O.D. is fighting Mr. Sikiru and it is very dirty. He is too knowledgeable not to have known the implications of such action. It is very sad and distasteful. We were more than shocked when we saw it.

"We don't know why Dr. Abiola and his colleague wants to slander Mr. Abacos (Sikiru's) reputation with this. We urge our Lecturers to always settle their disputes amicably and not  fight dirty like this. It is too bad. It is scandalous and libelous to his reputation."

Efforts to speak with Mr. Adekunle Sikiru and the course lecturers, Barr. Aboderin and Dr. Abiola on this issue as at the time of this report proved abortive.