Kemisola Oye
THE hitherto suspended Rector of the Osun State Polytechnic (OSPOLY, lree, Dr Tajudeen Odetayo today returned to his office in deference to an order of court mandating maintenance of status quo pending hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
Dr. Odetayo was on 7th July 2023 suspended by the state government over a yet to be investigated or confirmed petition written against him by some members of management in the institution.
But the Lagos division of the National Industrial Court on 1st September 2023 ordered Governor Ademola Adeleke and 14 others to halt further action pending hearing of the substantive matter on the next day of adjournment.
Justice O.A Ogunbowale of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria of Ibadan division, who sat in Lagos as a vacation judge, issued the order while ruling on an ex parte application filed before the court by Dr. Odetayo.
The matter has been adjourned till 10th October 2023.
Eighteen-Eleven Media recalls that students of the institution as well as members of the OSPOLY chapter of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, (ASUP) had protested against the Rector’s temporary removal even as they rejected his replacement by Alabi Kehinde in acting capacity.
However, since the the matter was filed in court and the the court, in its interim injunction, ordered that the status quo be maintained pending hearing of the matter, Dr Odetayo today (Thursday) returned to continue his tenure at the polytechnic.
He was received by management members and ASUP executive committee members back into the campus with the display of various placards accompanied by prayer sessions.
Chairman of ASUP in the institution, Comrade Ezekiel Alabi appreciated the state governor, Ademola Adeleke for allowing the rule of law to prevail on the matter as he promised ASUP’s support for Odetayo throughout his tenure in office.
While addressing the staff, Dr Odetayo appreciates the support of staff members of the institution admonishing them to remain committed to their duty and promising to continue to toe the line of peace and the rule of law.
Eighteen-Eleven Media