Ekohotblog Publisher Commends NIJ On Zero Tolerance For Sexual Harrasment

……..Sacks Lecturer For Alleged Sexual Assault

The publisher of Ekohotblog, Otunba TJ Abass has commended the Nigeria Institute of Journalism’s proactive approach in addressing the sexual harassment charges levied against one of its lecturers

“The setting up of the panel to investigate the allegation and eventual dismissal of the accused lecturer speaks volume about the institution” .

” It is a testimonial to the doctrine of fairness and equity that has always been the mantra of the foremost institution”.

“The rights of every student must be protected. Their privacy must be respected and no female students deserve such humiliation, he concluded.

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Ekohotblog recalls that Ms Anjola Ogunyemi a female student of the Nigeria Institute of Journalism had accused Mr. Tene John of attempting to forcefully have sexual intercourse with her in his office.

Ms Anjola Ogunyemi, who subsequently petitioned the institute and demanded probe, said she had arrived at the institute for a morning lecture when the incident happened.

Upon investigation, the institute relieved Tene of his job and warned other lecturers and students to desist from such an act.

Tene’s sack was announced by NIJ in an official release signed by its Registrar and circulated on its official social media handles on Monday.

The release read in part, “Our attention has been drawn to a post on the social media, by one of our students, Ms Anjola Ogunyemi in National Diploma One, alleging sexual harassment against one of our part-time lecturers, Mr Tene John.

“Ms Ogunyemi’s petition to the school on the alleged sexual harassment was received on December 19, 2019 – the day of our vacation. And the Provost called her on that same day to acknowledge the receipt of her petition, assuring her that the matter will be looked into appropriately.

“The institution, thereafter, set up a panel of three lecturers: two females and a male. The panel sat and took evidence from the two parties and witnesses concerned. On Friday, January 17, 2020 – the last day of its sitting, the accused and the accuser were made to confront each other at the panel.

“It was difficult for the panel to establish concretely a case of sexual harassment in its report because there were glaring contradictions in the testimonies of the two parties and witnesses.

“We wish to place on record that Ms Ogunyemu walked out on the panel and ran to the social media to tell her story on the day the panel’s final sitting.

“In view of our institution’s zero tolerance for improper conduct on the part of the staff and students, and in light of the interest the matter has generated, the following decisions have been taken: the lecturer concerned, Mr Tene, who has been on our faculty for over a decade has been relieved of his appointment, we thank him for his services and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavours.

“Ms Ogunyemi, who has just returned from a one-year suspension over indecent dressing and gross misconduct is advised to adhere strictly to her matriculation oath of channeling her grievances to the authorities of the institution.

“We wish to reiterate that our staff and students are governed by rules and regulations and it is important we comply accordingly.”