A former Director of Works and Physical Planning at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Engr. Babatunde Oloko has raised the alarm over harassment by two individuals purporting to work with the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) over his petition against a former Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof, Toyin Ogundipe.
Narrating his experience to The Lagos Times, Oloko said he got a call earlier this week from a woman who purported to work for the ICPC in the Lagos office, and that she asked him to come to their Lagos office in respect of his corruption petition against Ogundipe, a few years ago.
Engr. Oloko said the call was suspicious for many reasons, including the long interlude since when his petition was submitted. As he was in Abuja at the time the call came, he said he told the woman who reportedly said her colleague would call him.
The development became more suspicious when a man purporting to work for the ICPC at its Abuja Headquarters called him immediately, asking that he should come over in respect of his petition.
According to Oloko, since anyone could purport to work with any organisation while speaking over the phone, and taking precaution against being kidnapped, he requested that the man should make his invitation formal, and proceeded to share his email address.
He said the email sent by the man, entitled “Petition” was sent from a suspicious email address, info@icp.gov.ng and signed by Mustapha M. Hussain, adding that this made him to be more suspicious,
The body of the email he received reads, Dear Sir/Madam, I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your petition. You will be notified of further development if necessary. Please accept the assurances of Hon. Chairman’s best regards.”
He said he sought the advice of his legal counsel, and replied the email, drawing their attention to the discrepancy he noticed in the email address used in sending the email (info@icp.gov.ng) as against the official ICPC email (info@icpc.gov.ng), adding their he expressed concern over this inconsistency.
He further wrote in his reply, which he shared with The Lagos Times, that “As I mentioned during our phone conversation, I am no longer a staff member of the University of Lagos and I am currently involved in a legal dispute with the institution. On the advice of my legal counsel, I have been instructed to refrain from engaging in any matters related to the University of Lagos.
“Should you require information about corruption at UNILAG, I recommend referring to the report of the Presidential Visitation Panel, led by General Martin Luther Agwai. The report exposes deep-seated corruption , including significant financial mismanagement, procurement breaches, and ethical lapses, as detailed in the “White Paper on Report of General Martin Luther Agwai Visitation Panel to UNILAG.
“If the ICPC still requires my appearance at their office, I kindly request a formal letter from the organisation, addressed appropriately, stating the specific details of the petition you want me to respond to.”
