Bauchi Poly Sacks Two Lecturers For Allegedly Raping Students

The Federal Polytechnic Bauchi has relieved two of its staff from work for allegedly raping two students.

The revelation was contained in a statement made available to newsmen during the weekend, Ezenwoko’s Blog reports.

Musa Baba, a lecturer in the Department of General Studies and Adebusoye Sunday of the Nutrition and Dietetics Department are said to have committed the offences at different locations and times.

Their dismissal from the institution was confirmed following the 98th meeting of the governing council of the institution on Saturday, led by its Chairman, Isaac Ogbobula, Ezenwoko’s Blog reports.

It was reported that a human rights organisation, Prison Inmate Development, had alleged in a letter of complaint to the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, that the polytechnic management was covering up Baba despite being found guilty of the allegations against him.

However, while speaking with reporters on the matter earlier, the school Rector, Sanusi Gumau, faulted the claims that the school management was covering up for Baba.

Gumau, who was flanked by the chairman and members of the governing council, said when the victim wrote on the incident to the management, Baba was queried, as a panel was set up to investigate him.

His statement reads: “I welcome you to witness the final verdict of all that has been making waves in the media concerning the issue of our staff member who was reported to have been allegedly involved in rape, Abubakar Musa Baba.

“But what surprises me the most is that it is only his name that is being mentioned. The other lecturer’s name was silent in the media; I don’t know the reason or the rationale behind it.

“This issue of Musa Baba came up on August 3, 2021. The extant rule of the polytechnic is that if an issue of this magnitude happens, the complainant has to write. And immediately when she wrote, the registrar, that very evening, was in my house with her HOD.

“I directed that the staff member be queried, which was the next line of action as per the extant rule of our institution as provided by the Federal Government. But when his reply was not satisfactory, we established a committee to investigate that matter thoroughly to its logical conclusion.”

He added that after the committee submitted its report and other processes were followed, the council approved the dismissal of Baba from the institution. The Rector further confirmed that the second lecturer, Sunday, was also dismissed for a similar offence.

Gumau noted that the dismissal letters of the erring lecturers would be handed over to the police and the Department of State Services, which assisted the institution in the cases.

Meanwhile, the polytechnic also confirmed the dismissal of no fewer than 30 students who were allegedly involved in examination malpractices and forgery of certificates.

According to Gumau, 14 of the students were dismissed for engaging in exam malpractices, while the remaining 16 were dismissed for either forging their Senior Secondary School Certificate or their National Diploma Certificate.