Federal Polytechnic Bauchi sacks 2 lecturers for alleged sexual harassment

 

The Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi’s Governing Council has sacked two lecturers who were found guilty of sexually harassing their students.

This decision was made at the Polytechnic’s Governing Council’s 98th meeting, which held on Saturday, October 23.

Musa Baba Abubakar of the General Studies Department and Adebusoye Michael Sunday of the Nutrition and Dietetics Department are among the dismissed lecturers.

The move comes after a Human Rights Organization, Prison Inmate Development (PIDI Nigeria), filed a complaint accusing the institution’s management of attempting to hide Mr. Musa Baba Abubakar, who is known for sexually harassing female students.

“The letter of complaint, signed by Japhet Ikita and addressed to the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Ministry of Justice, through the Director, Public Prosecution, Ministry of Justice, Bauchi, said that the management of the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi was attempting to hide Baba who is “adjudged a serial rapist, sexual harasser and intimidator of female students in the institution without making it public for prosecution.”

‘Emergency: PIDI-Nigeria condemns concealment of rape, sexual harassment, and intimidation of two female students by Abubakar Baba, a lecturer, and the Management of Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi,’ read the letter, dated October 7, 2021.

The letter says, “The management of Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, Nigeria has displayed an act, suggesting a tactic to offer cover to a lecturer adjudged a serial rapist, sexual harasser, and intimidator of Female Students in the institution without making it public for prosecution.”

The lecturer was caught red-handed by the school’s Rector after defiling one 17-year-old female student; he was accused of sexually molesting numerous female students and pushing himself on them,” PIDI stated in the letter seen by the medium.

The lecturer was pardoned by the polytechnic, according to PIDI, an omen that violated the state’s VAPP laws.

“He took a knife and threatened me that if I didn’t agree to have sex with him, he would injure me,” the 17-year-old girl told PIDI. I was terrified as he grabbed me, used his hands to pull my clothes down by the waist side, leaving the rest of my clothes undone, and defiled me; there was blood. No man has ever touched me.”

“PIDI-Nigeria has unequivocal proof to take the polytechnic, its principal officers, and the lecturer to court if those in charge of holding the perpetrator accountable fail to perform their job,” the Organization added.

The Rector, Arc. Yahaya Gumau, addressed journalists at the end of the meeting, which lasted several hours, and denied allegations that the school management was attempting to cover up the issues and the erring lecturers.
“I welcome you to witness the final verdict of all that has been making headlines in the media concerning the issue of our staff member Abubakar Musa Baba, who was reported to have been involved in rape,” Arc Gumau said.