The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) professor involved in the sex-for-marks scandal might go unpunished even if he is guilty. This is according to the university’s management.

They pointed to irregularities such as the fact the university is not named and the lack of a complainant due to the refusal of the female student in question to come forward.
 
According to reports, the female student has told her friends her refusal to show up is so the lecturer would keep his job.

The professor, Richard Akindele, got embroiled in this after an audio recording of his conversation with a female student hit the internet. The professor is heard soliciting for sex from the student in exchange for bumping her grade up from a fail to a pass.

The institution’s public relations officer, Abiodun Olanrewaju, in a chat with The Sun said, “First and foremost, I want to state it loud and clear that the university is in the know of the audio that has gone viral.

“We have set up a committee to critically investigate the authenticity of the audio to ascertain the characters involved in order to ascertain the veracity of the allegation and also to ascertain if the characters are of the Obafemi Awolowo University because, throughout the recording, there was no mention of OAU.

“Yes, the lecturer’s voice heard in the audio was clearly demanding for sex from the student and OAU has zero tolerance for sexual harassment, intimidation or coercion under whatever guise.

“Since it came to our notice, the university has begun the process of identifying the characters in this breach of regulation because OAU has a code of conduct for staff and students.

“We frown at anybody whose conduct or utterances might breach the code of conduct of the anti-sexual harassment policy and to this end, any member of the university who goes beyond the laws of the university will be sanctioned.”

Asked if the school will still go ahead and sanction the lecturer if found guilty, even if the lady whose voice was heard in the audio refuses to come out to testify, Olarenwaju added, “When we get to the bridge, we will cross it. But let us be clear that for justice to take place, there must be a complainant.

“For example, a victim has to report to a police station for any injustice before the police can take up the matter.

“There has to be a complainant before things could be done.”