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“Lift My Suspension, Pay My Withheld Salaries, Announce My Promotion As Professor Already Due
—-Dr. Bode Ekundayo Tells UNIBEN Authorities.
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
Dr. Omowumi Olabode Steven Ekundayo, a Lecturer with the University of Benin (UNIBEN), who was standing trial on alleged sexual assault (rape) on a female student; and who was discharged and acquitted recently by an Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City, has called for the lifting of his suspension.
Dr. Bode Steve Ekundayo, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of English and Literature, University of Benin, made this call in a chat with Aljazirah Nigeria in Benin City, on Thursday, 31st October, 2024.
Ekundayo appealed to Uniben authorities to lift his suspension, facilitate the payment of his withheld salaries and his promotion to Professor already due, as I have already been assessed successfully for Associate Prof in 2021 and I already qualified for Professorship”.
Dr. Ekundayo was accused of sexually assaulting a final year female student of the department in his office on October 5, 2021. Consequently, he was issued a query and placed on interdiction pending the final determination of the case in court by Management of the University.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Mary Itsueli, while upholding the no case submission filed by the defense counsel and former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Edo State, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana, maintained that the prosecution team also failed to tender the University of Benin Health Center medical report as exhibit to court during the trial, which clearly negate the claims of the claimant and UniBen.
According to the University Don:”They should pay my withheld salaries for three years. They were paying between 6,000 and 49,000 as my basic salary for three years, contrary to the rules and regulations… I had a close shave with death by suicide, depression and even amnesia. I believe very sincerely that the university authorities could have been more sympathetic and equitable to my predicament. How they handled the investigation, a long story better avoided now, the kind of news they dished out were shocking”.
The University Don, who was full of gratitude to God Almighty, for saving him from premeditated false accusations, profusely thanked all those who stood by him during his period of ordeal, and said the following about the girl that wrongly accused him:” I believe Anita Adesuwa, the girl, was manipulated socio-spiritually or hypnotically by those who wanted to ruin me and her too. I hope she asks for forgiveness by God, Nature and Society”.
Dr. Bode Ekundayo emphasized thus:”I can only think of suing them to court for damages and this depends on the post-court-verdict reaction of UniBen authorities. If they are straight, they ought to call me for humane reconciliation because I am still going to work there by his grace. I am not thinking of revenge at all. I will offend all God has done for me these three years if I pursue crude revenge. That will be reducing myself to the level of their primordial instincts.he stated.
For me, victory is the sweetest revenge I can ever have, and I already have it. It is what you are that you reflect to or on the world. This is my message and position”.he concluded.
