11th May, 2024
By Alaba Olusola Oke
Prof. Adolphus Loto, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration and Clinical Services of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) Ondo, Ondo State, has been sacked for allegedly making false claims against members of staff of the institution and disclosing confidential and official information liable to cause a breach of peace in the university community
The removal of the Deputy Vice-chancellor was announced in a statement by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Temitope Oluwatayo, in Akure on Friday.
According to the statement, the decision to relieve Prof Loto of his position was confirmed on Thursday, following the adoption and ratification of the Senate decision by the Governing Council of the institution at its 22nd Statutory meeting held at the Council Chamber, Medical Village Campus, Ondo.
Prof Loto was in the Department of Restorative Dentistry of the university had authored a 13-page petition to the Governing Council of the institution levelling various allegations against the Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar and the Bursar.
The Governing Council referred the petition as well as the responses of the Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar and the Bursar to the Petitions Committee of the Council appointed to investigate and make proper recommendations.
But, according to the statement, Petition Committee of Council found the allegations to be untrue, malicious and embarrassing.
The Committee also said the petition is liable to bring the university to disrepute given Prof. Loto’s position as Deputy Vice Chancellor.
“The decision of the Senate was predicated on the former DVC’s unbecoming conduct including frivolous, spurious and unsubstantiated allegations against the University Management.
“The Governing Council had earlier referred Prof. Loto’s 13-page petition as well as the responses of the Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar and the Bursar to the Petitions Committee of the Council appointed to investigate and make proper recommendations.
“The Petition Committee of Council, therefore, found the allegations untrue, malicious and embarrassing to the university community and are liable to bring the university to disrepute given Prof. Loto’s position as Deputy Vice Chancellor.
“UNIMED Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Prof. Ayodele Arowojolu, while addressing the Council, noted that a unanimous decision of the Senate speaks volumes about the lack of confidence in Prof. Loto by his academic peers to remain in the office of DVC Admin,” the statement stated.
The Governing Council thereafter approved the resolution of the University Senate for the removal of Prof. Adolphus Loto as DVC.
“UNIMED Senate, on Monday, April 29, 2024, considered the report of the PCC and recommended the removal of Prof. Loto as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor by an overwhelming majority with 100 per cent of the voters approving his removal as DVC Admin.
“The decision was premised on the fact that Prof. Loto made false claims against members of staff of the university, disclosed confidential and official information liable to cause a breach of peace in the university community,” it said. ( NAN)