A lecturer of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) Dr Balogun Olaniran,has been arraigned by the independent corrupt practices and Other related offences commission, ICPC for demanding sexual and monetary gratification from a female student of the institution.
A statement by the ICPC’s spokesperson,Azuka Ogugua on Friday, said the defendant, Dr Balogun Olaniran was brought before Hon. Justice Osinuga of the Ijebu-Ode High Court, sitting in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State by ICPC on a one-count charge for violating Section 8(1) (a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. He was arraigned on Monday 27th March 2023.
ICPC Counsel told the court how the defendant, Dr Olaniran, while being the Head of the Department of Religious Studies at TASUED sometime between October and November 2021, demanded the sexual benefit or the payment of N100,000 from a female student with a promise to alter her academic grades.
Part of the charge read: “within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, corruptly demanded sexual benefit or payment of the sum of N100,000 for himself from (name withheld), a female student, on account of a favour to be afterwards shown her in the discharge of his official duties as a lecturer and Head of Department of Religious Studies at the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ijebu Ode, to wit, offering to alter her academic grades from fail to pass in courses with codes EDU 311 and EDU 312.”
The defendant, Dr Olaniran pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him. The trial judge, Justice Osinuga admitted the defendant to bail of N500,000 with a surety in like sum. The surety must provide evidence of 3 years of tax clearance and evidence of means. The matter was then adjourned to the 11th of May 2023 for the commencement of trial.
Recall that the Management of the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, suspended Dr Olaniran Balogun, who was declared wanted by the ICPC.
Balogun, who was also the Head of the Department of Religious Studies at the institution, was declared wanted by the anti-graft agency for allegedly abusing his office and demanding gratification on August 28th, 2022.
The Deputy Registrar, Media and Corporate Relations, Gbenga Omilola, in a statement dated August 28, said the university management had relieved Balogun of his position and had placed him on interdiction until he cleared himself of all allegations of misdemeanours brought against him by the anti-graft agency.
