Ahmadu Bello University QUERIES PROF KOLO OVER SEXUAL HARASSMENT

The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria has queried Professor David Kolo of the university’s faculty of education for sexually harassing one of his female students, a development that led to his sentence to two months imprisonment by a court in Jigawa.

Daily Trust learnt that the university management had since issued a query to the professor, demanding explanation on why he indulged in the act of sexual harassment.

ABU’s statute provides stiff disciplinary action on established cases of sexual harassment, and this may include dismissal.

Our correspondent gathered that Professor Kolo refused to answer the query, an act that our source described as a “gross misconduct.”

“The university has laid down rules and regulations guiding the conduct of any staff. If a query is issued to any staff of the university, it means the university wants a convincing explanation over a certain issue. If such staff decides not to answer, there is the next step. This can be suspension. After investigation, like in this case, it can result to outright dismissal,” the source said.

However, in an interview with journalists, ABU’s head of public affairs department, Dr. Isma’il Shehu, advised students and parents to be utilizing the various channels of laying complaints that are available in the university.

“The management of the university, particularly the Vice Chancellor Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, was extremely sad because both the student in question and her husband, who happens to be an academic staff of a polytechnic, failed to inform the management of the university over the Prof’s advances. The university could have handled that issue without fear or favour. You can’t expect a responsible management like ours to allow such types of indiscipline to go down the drain,” Dr. Shehu said.