EKSU lecturer fired for alleged sex scandal is reinstated by the court

This was stated in the ruling of the Akure Division of the Industrial Court in the case with suit number NICN/AK/08/2020 filed by Aduwo against the EKSU Vice Chancellor, the EKSU Governing Council, and the university regarding his termination from the institution's employ over what he called a "phantom sex allegation."

In his ruling on February 8, 2023, Justice Kiyersohok Damulak ruled that the discharge of the claimant (Aduwo) from his position with the defendants (EKSU) by letter dated December 5, 2019, was improper, invalid, and unconstitutional.

The claimant must be "reinstated to his job with full entitlements with the payment of his salary and allowances from the date of dismissal to the date of decision today, February 8, 2023 and subsequently," the judge said.
The court further mandated that EKSU reimburse the claimant (Aduwo) for the N300,000 fee.

The case involves Olatosin, a female student who visited the lecturer at around 9 p.m. on June 24, 2019, and then invited some others inside. Together, they insulted and dehumanized the lecturer in a viral video on the grounds that he wanted to have an affair with her.

After a viral video of the incident went viral on social media, EKSU formed an inquiry committee to look into the situation, and Aduwo was later fired.

However, Aduwo had petitioned the court through his attorney O.O. Ayenakin and others, asking for, among other things, "a declaration that the claimant's termination from his appointment with the defendants pursuant to the letter dated December 5, 2019, but which was served on the claimant in February 20, 2020, is wrongful, illegal, null and void."

Aduwo further requested "an order reinstating him to his employment with full rights with the payment of his salary and allowances from the date of dismissal until the date of judgment and thereafter." He claimed that his firing was a gross violation of his condition of service.

A court order for the defendants to run an apology ad for the claimant in at least three national newspapers in Nigeria was another request made by the lecturer.

Aduwo had complained to the court that he had not received a fair hearing from the investigating committee or any of the defendants' committees, and he also claimed that the committees had not followed the law.

The instructor did not ask to question the female student or any other witness when he came before the panel, according to EKSU, which said it followed due process with the investigation and other committees.

The judge faulted the committees, saying, "It is clear that the composition of the investigative panel fell short of the requirement of the law." He held that Aduwo had not received a fair hearing because "no indication that the panel gave the claimant the opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses and he declined."