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Uzo Nwogu
The Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy (CODWA) had condemned the recent assault on a female lecturer at the Department of Microbiology, University of Ilorin, Dr. Rahmat Zakariya, by now expelled UNILORIN 400 level student, Salaudeen Waliu Aanuoluwa, and any violence of it’s kind, no matter, who is involved on both sides of violence.
Executive Director, CODWA, Comrade Taiwo Otitolaye, in a statement on Monday, said people should come to terms that the society is being overwhelmed with youth who allegedly have mental health-related issues which, according to him, need to be addressed professionally, devoid of emotional traps and Gestapo’s exigencies.
Otitolaye said, “One would have expected UNILORIN as an Institution that has come of age to approach the case with a dual-lens. That is, after the arrest of the student, explore the possibility of a mental test and examination.
“According to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) ‘Recent statistics have revealed that 40 percent of Nigerian youth between 18 and 35 years are deeply involved in the abuse of drugs.’
“Also, the United Nations Office on Drug and Crimes (UNODC) said ‘that 14.4 percent of Nigerians are presently engaged in drug abuse.’
“So on this particular case, UNILORIN while wielding the stick should equally know that it’s a double edge sword because one of the underlining factors that stirred up the attack is that the attacker “may never be in a good mental state.” If this assumption is correct, then not addressing the mental condition of the young man poses danger to him and the general population.”
He added, “Equally, the ministry of youth and social welfare Kwara state must Wake up to her responsibility of stepping into the case.
“Left for the Police, it will be trigger happy to focus on only seeking a conviction for the young man and not concern about the adverse effects on the larger society.
“This is also a clarion call that mental health-related Issues must be holistically addressed to reduce the current upsurge among young people and the general population.”
Dr. Zakariya, who was beaten to coma by Aanuoluwa, popularly called Captain Walz, denied an allegation reportedly by Aanuoluwa that she threw a mug at him.
Dr. Zakariya, who is also the SIWES Coordinator, said Aanuoluwa barged into her office and alleged that she sent people to kill him.
She said: “I was surprised that Waliyullah Salaudeen claimed I threw a mug at him. This was someone who barged into my office and said I sent an assassin to kill him. Salaudeen was raking and banging on my table and also throwing punches at me, she said.
“It is not true that I am his Level Adviser or Supervisor. I am just a lecturer at the Department and also the SIWES Coordinator.
“He told me that he did not complete his SIWES programme, and he gave me the reason that he was sick. I asked him to get his medical report to prove he was truly sick, and he should take it to where he did his SIWES. If luck shines on him, they may have compassion on him. If he were diligent during his one-month stay, he would be endorsed on his logbook. He left and did not show up again.
“When we met again, he was unable to provide the medical report. Two days later I met with his Level Adviser, and I said he had to re-register SIWES. The level adviser only smiled as I was giving him the way around.
“I told him to register the programme where we can monitor him at the Medical Research Laboratory close to the department as he will be doing his project. This was about six months ago.
The day of the incident, he barged into my office with a courteous smile on his face, addressing me by my name, Zakariya, and asking why I sent an assassin named Azeez to kill him and that I am after his life. Salaudeen was asking me in Yoruba.”
She added, “I felt there was mixed up somewhere and started pleading with him to calm down. Instead, he started banging on my table, asking what I do to him, swearing, and using derogatory words.
“He moved closer to my chair and started punching me, and by that, I started screaming for help. Two of my students who are both females came pleading to leave me alone but threatened to kill them if they moved any inch closer.
“I ran to my colleague’s office, but none was around, so had to go to the general lab where he chased me also. Salaudeen later caught up with me after I left the laboratory. I was already on the ground that he started punching me again, she said. He left me to my fate when he saw that I was already in a coma.
“Some people came to my rescue. He was walking majestically and later chased him until he was caught.
“Since the incident, it has not been easy maintaining the person I was, but I will try my best not to deviate.
“I offer help and also solicit for my students.”
Waliu had earlier opened up on how he assaulted the lecturer.
He claimed to have visited Allen Avenue in Ikeja, Lagos State to see a friend for the first time and had been pressed to urinate while waiting for the person.
According to him, while he was beaten by a mob.
He said, “I urinated near a car parked by drainage and challenged by one of the workers there. I was then accused of being a thief and was not allowed to explain myself before a mob descended.
“I was severely beaten and handed over to the police which led to my detention for two months.” He said he had visited the female lecturer’s office to help him wave his mandatory SIWES scheme.
According to him, the lecturer said there was nothing she could do to assist him and ordered him out of her office.
Aanuoluwa, said, “She said there was no help to offer, except I joined the next set which would result in an extra year. On the fateful Thursday when I entered her office, she ordered me out”
“I got angry. I don’t know what came over me. I started arguing and she told me to leave her office. I told her if I don’t leave, what is she going to do? She threw a mug at me which injured me and I started beating her/
“I dragged her out and she ran. I chased and kept beating her before people came. I tried to run but was later caught by the school security.”
Aanuoluwa was expelled by UNILORIN management after being found guilty of assaulting Dr. Zakariyau. He later was arraigned in a Magistrate court in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, presided over by Muhammed Ibrahim.
A statement by the University’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun, had disclosed that the verdict was handed down by the Student Disciplinary Committee where Aanuoluwa was arraigned on Monday, adding that he had 48 days to appeal against the verdict to the Vice-Chancellor in case he felt dissatisfied with the decision.
“Salaudeen has since been handed over to the police for further necessary action”, Akogun said.
A letter written to Salaudeen by the University Registrar reads, “You will recall that you appeared before the Student Disciplinary Committee (SDC) to defend yourself in respect of an allegation of misconduct leveled against you.
“After due consideration of all evidence before it, the Committee was convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that the allegation of misconduct has been established against you. It has accordingly recommended to the Vice-Chancellor, who in the exercise of the power conferred on him, has directed that you Salaudeen, Waliu Aanuoluwa be expelled from the University.
“Accordingly, you are hereby expelled from the University with immediate effect.
“You are required to submit forthwith, all University property in your custody including your Student Identity Card to the Dean of Student Affairs or his representative and keep off the campus.
“In case you are dissatisfied with this decision, you are free to appeal to the University Council through the Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences to the Vice-Chancellor within forty-eight (48) days of the date of this letter.”
The magistrate ordered that the accused be remanded at the federal correctional centre, Ilorin, Kwara State.
The first report by the police was said to have shown that the student took hard drugs before going to the lecturer’s office.
Ibrahim, the magistrate, who presided over the case, ordered that the accused be remanded at the correctional centre.
Ibrahim also adjourned the case to November 26 for further deliberation.
