18th January, 2020
By Taiwo Okanlawon
Following the shocking accusation of sexual harassment by Motunrayo Afolayan, a 400-level student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, and other students of the institution against their lecturer, Olabisi Olaleye.
Motunrayo who is from the Department of International Relations, Faculty of Administration of the institution recorded Mr Olabisi Olaleye threatening to fail her for turning down his sexual advances.
The audio recording is part of the evidence presented by Ms Afolayan before the panel set to probe the allegations.
In the seven minutes recording, the lecturer was allegedly heard in Yoruba language demanding for hugs from Miss Afolayan.
He also accused the student of refusing to cook for him from the “excess money” she receives from her parent, and that she also “didn’t want to sleep with him.”
Mr Olaleye also asked Ms Afolayan when she would be free to “be with him” but the student said she wanted to write another examination.
But in his response, Olaleye told the student he wasn’t expecting her to be with him forever. “Or are you bewitched?” he asked the student angrily.
Having established a prima facie case against him, the management of the university said it had halved the lecturer’s salaries pending the outcome of the matter before the panel.
According to the university’s spokesperson, Abiodun Olarewaju, the university took the decision after it had confirmed the authenticity of the evidence presented by the accuser.
Meanwhile, Nigerians on major social media platforms are calling the institution’s authorities to sack the accused lecturer after other students and alumni of the department took to social media to narrate their experiences with the lecturer, showing evidence including screenshots of messages reportedly exchanged between them and Mr Olaleye.
See some reactions;
https://twitter.com/THE_BREZZIDENT/status/1218428673088479232
we have a host of ladies (alumni and current students) who are ready to testify. We have chats where he was seeking for sex from female students in exchange of grades. This matter will not die down. Justice for Motunrayo is justice for million more ladies#OAUTakeBisiOut
— Karimot Odebode (@Lady_karimah) January 18, 2020
An open letter from the final year students of the department of International Relations at Obafemi Awolowo University! Please Retweet! Let the world know that we have a RAPIST as a lecturer and we want him GONE! SEX FOR GRADES IS RAPE! #OAUTAKEBISIOUT! RT! RT! RT! RT! RT! pic.twitter.com/dI7j78EBY3
— demi phillips. (@heydemilade) January 18, 2020
This is another chat between Mr Bisi Olaleye and another undisclosed student. Note that Mr B was recently involved in a sex for mark scandal. Kindly retweet after reading these chats beneath. Thanks#OAUTakeBisiOut#OAUTakeBisiOut#OAUTakeBisiOut pic.twitter.com/ZNPw4BszOg
— Venerable sam (@adebiyi_sa) January 18, 2020
We can't just allow people like this man to go freely after doing such things to helpless girls this must be stopped not only in OAU but also in all institutions #OAUTakeBIsiOUt https://t.co/nU3aD0yvpG
— Milore (@mi_milore) January 18, 2020
News coming out of OAU lately is heartbreaking, Great ife doesn't sound and feel like the school I graduated from. #OAUTakeBisiOut
— Juwon George (@citizenjuwon) January 18, 2020
#OAUTakeBisiOut When you are making decisions please always imagine what it could put people around you! Shame or proud? Imagine a lecturer requesting for sex bursted, he’s married with children what will he make his immediate family feel?
— Olubadan of twiter(Governor of ibadan state) (@ewaife0808) January 18, 2020
Crazy is an understatement for Mr Bisi olaleye …..and I'm not underestimating her academic intelligence but I know there are many female students who would have done better if they were not ambushed by sexual predators like Bisi. #OAUTakeBisiOut https://t.co/H0lF7wRdsj
— Akande Emmanuel (@AkandeE40516248) January 18, 2020
Hi @OAUSecurityDep Are you aware of the recent sexual harassment by one of our lecturers? If no, I've got you #OAUTakeBisiOut , and if yes, what are the steps taken yet? Because it's a threat to the security of our female students.
Thank you as you reply to this.
— Fadilulahi Jimoh. (@_JimFad_) January 18, 2020
If only you know the amount of ladies that are contemplating suicide because of monsters like this bisi of a man…left for me alone, if the school does not take proper action, I won't be against jungle Justice by the students#OAUTakeBisiOut
— Dickson Daniel (@I_am_dsquare) January 18, 2020
If the evidence is overwhelmingly obvious, delay makes the institution an accomplice #OAUTakeBisiOut
— OLUWASOLA I. ADEPOJU (@supremeadepoju) January 18, 2020
The boldness of some lecturers in their immoral advances is just disgusting n should be looked into across all Nigerian Universities #OAUTakeBisiOut
— Senior Prefect (@_seniorprefect) January 18, 2020