Students Drag HOD Over Defamation Of Junior Lecturer

Some students of the Osun State Polytechnic (OSPOLY), Iree have condemned two lecturers of Advance Press Law (MAC 410); the Head of Department, Mass Communication, Dr Tope Abiola and his colleague, Lawrence Aboderin for defamation.

To the students, both senior lecturers allegedly defamed another lecturer of the department, Adekunle Sikiru in a question set in the ongoing first semester examination.

The examiners held that Sikiru was raped by two female students, embezzled the department's students association funds as well as an involvement in the matcheting of two male students and the accused lecturer was said to have been in police net over the matter according to one of the questions.

Speaking on the issue, a member of the Concerned OSPOLY Students, Aladetimehin Oluwatobi decried the manner in which the question was set, describing it as libelous and a defamation of character.

Oluwatobi expressed disappointment in the lecturers who he said are expected to be aware of the implications of such acts for engaging in a move that could forever jeopardise the reputation of the said lecturer. 

He affirmed that if there was no issue, such information could not be used in an examination question paper. 

"Certainly, there is an issue. Our H.O.D. is fighting Mr Sikiru and it is very dirty.

"He is too knowledgeable not to have known the implications of such action.

"It is very sad and distasteful. We were more than shocked when we saw it. 

"We don't know why Dr Abiola and his colleague wants to slander Mr Abacos (Sikiru's) reputation with this.

"We urge our lecturers to always settle their disputes amicably and not fight dirty like this.

"It is too bad. It is scandalous and libelous to his reputation."

Efforts to speak with Adekunle Sikiru and the course lecturers, Barr. Aboderin and Dr Abiola on this issue as at the time of this report proved abortive.

Reacting, the Head of Department of Mass Communication, Osun State Polytechnic, Dr Tope Abiola said that there is no crisis between staff and students’association of the department.

Abiola stated that the Press Law examination question which was twisted by some misguided elements among the students was mischievous.

He explained that the illustration given for the students in the said Press Law question was to examine the versatility and depth of knowledge of the students in practical terms of crime news reporting.

"It was a test for the students to know how to avoid libel and slanders in the course of writing news stories.”  

He described the purported allegation as a fallacy, while all the names used were fictitious elements of coincidence.

"Mr Adekunle Sikiru whose name was mentioned is a brilliant upright, hardworking and forthright personality in the department.

"The practical illustration in the question was a test of knowledge which had earlier been exemplified in the course of study in the class."

Also reacting, the President of the National Association of Mass Communication Students (NAMACOS), Sogo Adedapo said there was no grudge between the association and lecturers in the department.

He noted that all students’ activities in the department are well monitored by Students Representatives Council and other stakeholders in the department.

"The question was an academic exercise that carried no mischievous intention."