UNILAG: How Sacked VC Ogundipe Spent Institution Funds Recklessly

Prof. Toyin Ogundipe, the sacked Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), has been accused of recklessly spending the institution funds and breaching due process.

The allegations were made by the Dr Wale-Babalakin-led Governing Council of UNILAG in a statement titled, “I prefer to be probed by Professor of Public Sector Accounting, not Chemistry lecturer, says Prof Ogundipe in defence at UNILAG Council Meeting.”

According to the Governing Council, the Dr Saminu Dagara-led committee that probed Prof. Ogundipe reported that the VC and some members of his management team spent N57.9m on foreign trips, while they purchased two vehicles for N52.08m using “a contract splitting device that is very illegal.”

The committee also reported that Ogundipe’s management allegedly spent N52.2m on waste management and janitorial services “in breach of procurement law and practices.”

Ogundipe also spent N112.4m to renovate the official living quarters of three principal staff, including the VC’s lodge, renovated with N49.4m.

The N112.4m, according to the committee, was without the council’s approval and was well above the VC’s approval limit of N2m.

“In the last six months, Prof. Ogundipe has recklessly been spending university money without giving any accounts.

“For instance, while the council approved spending towards staff palliative for COVID-19, he claimed he spend N67m on this without providing any breakdown of his spending,” the council stated in the statement published by The Punch.