Sexual assault: Prof Opefeyitimi will face disciplinary actions – OAU

Sexual assault: Prof Opefeyitimi will face disciplinary actions – OAU

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has announced that Professor Joseph Opefeyitimi will face disciplinary actions.

The management strongly denied speculations that it was shielding the staff from punishment.

A student, Boluwatife Bababunmi (Department of Linguistics and African Languages) had alleged that the Professor of Yoruba Incantations and Stylistics sexually assaulted her.

In her petition, Boluwatife recalled she went to his (Opefeyitimi) office on March 18, 2022 (around 1:23pm) on his request.

“He told me that he only wanted to ask about what was going on on the campus since he wasn’t around the previous day.”

“Opefeyitimi later packed his things as it was almost 2pm and he needed to pick up his son from school.”

The student said she offered to help him with the bag but he declined and she headed towards the door.

“He grabbed me from behind, held me so tight, then said: ‘Mo fé kí èmi àti e jo wà papò ni (thrice) but problem tí mo ní telè ni boy Ajibade yen but mi ò rò pé ó ye kó jé problem mó.

“I want the two of us to be together (three times), but the problem I had before was that boy called Ajibade. I don’t think he should pose any challenge again.”

Boluwatife said Opefeyitimi then stood up from the chair, still forcefully holding her, and dragged her to the couch.

“He had already pulled down his trousers and brought out his erect pen*s. He grabbed my right hand, and used it to rub his pen*s”, the petition reads.

A statement by Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olanrewaju informed the public that OAU was not “foot-dragging” on the matter.

The spokesman said the school would never not cover any staff or student found to have committed any sexual misdemeanor.

He pointed out that previous cases have not evaded the disciplinary hammer of the university administration.

On the latest incident, Olanrewaju explained that after the formal complaint, the departmental committee met.

The institution said after a thorough investigation, Professor Opefeyitimi was found prima facie liable.

After the matter moved to the Faculty level, the Faculty of Arts Dean, Professor Niyi Okunoye referred it OAU Anti-Sexual Harassment Committee.

“The committee recommended appropriate disciplinary actions against Professor Ayo Opefeyitimi to the University Management.

“The university administration would have to present its recommendations to the Governing Council which has the final say on the matter”, Olanrewaju added.

The statement insists OAU does not condone sexual rascality and will protect students “against any sexual predator, no matter how highly placed”.