UNILAG appoints new Acting Vice Chancellor

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) Governing Council has announced Prof. Theophilus Soyombo as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution to replace Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe who was removed from office on Wednesday, August 12.

Ogundipe was accused of acts of wrongdoing, gross misconduct, financial recklessness, and abuse of office.

Soyombo’s appointment was announced in a statement released by the Registrar and Secretary to the council, Oladejo Azeez. This comes hours after Ogundipe released a statement insisting he is still the Vice-Chancellor of the institution.

Azeez in the statement released said Ogundipe was duly removed from office.

The statement reads

“My attention has been drawn to a document circulating under the hand and signature of the former Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, FAS. The letter purports to deny his removal by the Governing Council of University at its Emergency Meeting of Wednesday, August 12, 2020.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I am in my capacity as Registrar and Secretary to Council the only custodian of the minutes of Council and the authorising officer on behalf of Council to issue official statements pertaining to all Council Affairs.

“Members of the public are hereby advised to totally disregard the statement attributed to the said former Vice Chancellor. The position remains that he was lawfully removed by the Governing Council at a meeting fully attended by all Council members.

“I also wish to use the opportunity to inform members of the public that Council at the said meeting duly appointed Professor Theophilus Omololu Soyombo of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos as Vice Chancellor of the University in an Acting Capacity.”