Nigerian Varsity Begins Investigation as Student’s Spouse Alleges Lecturer of Sexual Harassment
A lecturer at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) in Bauchi, Usman Mohammed, has been accused of sexual harassment by the spouse of a female student, Ja’afaru Buba.
According to Buba, the lecturer had been making unwanted advances towards his wife, a student in the Chemical Engineering Department, despite knowing she was married.
The alleged harassment included invitations to the lecturer’s office and unsolicited love messages sent via Whatsapp. When the student resisted the advances, the lecturer allegedly threatened to fail her in an examination and prevent her from graduating.
Buba has filed a petition with the university’s management, calling for an investigation into the lecturer’s conduct. The petition, which was also copied to the Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering and the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner of the Independent Corrupt Practices, Bauchi office, urged the university to take disciplinary action against the lecturer.
The petition was filed by the complainant, Barrister Mohammed Sani, which reads, “We hereby forward this complaint to you on for and behalf of our client, Kamila Rufa ‘i of the Chemical Engineering Department, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi against Usman Mohammed, a lecturer, in the Department of Chemical Engineering.
“That our client is an M.Eng. Chemical Engineering Student of the University, wherein Usman Mohammed taught her CHE 635 (polymer processing and its application) and now teaching her 656 (Fluidisation).
“However, it is in view of the student-lecturer relationship, the said Usman Mohammed took advantage of harassing our client sexually.
“At several times and without lawful justification, invited her to his office and also sent to her, unbecoming love messages through Whatsapp despite knowing that our client is a married woman. It’s pertinent for you to know that our client did not honour any of his invitations.”
The Barrister noted, “Due to the resistance of our client, the said Usman Mohammed informed our client’s friends that he would fail her in this examination as she will not graduate as an M.Eng. student from the university.
“On a personal basis, informed our client of the same threat because of her resistance to having sex with him.”
Counsel to the petitioner alleged further, “That the conduct of Usman Mohammed is against the university laws and conditions of service.”
He however urged the management of ATBU to conduct discrete investigations into the matter and sanction Usman Mohammed in accordance with the university’s law and condition of service in order to serve as deterrence to other lecturers.
In response to the allegations, the university’s management has pledged to investigate the matter and ensure justice is served, but in a surprising twist, the accused lecturer has filed a defamation suit against Buba at the Bauchi State High Court.
The lecturer denied the allegations when contacted, stating that he was aware of the case and would reserve his comments since the matter is already in court.
“I am aware of the case, and it is before the court, so I reserve my comment,” he noted.
The university’s Public Relations Officer, Zailani Bappah, also claimed he was not aware of the petition but would confirm with the management.
The incident has sparked concerns about the safety and well-being of students at the university, particularly in light of the lecturer’s alleged abuse of power.
The university’s response to the allegations will be closely watched, as it seeks to maintain its reputation as a reputable institution of higher learning.
Read also: Lecturer Accused of Sexual Assault Acquitted over want of evidence
Jerome Kalu
Jerome Kalu is currently the Senior Correspondent of PIJAlance in Lagos. He was previously the Campus Information Desk (CID) Editor.