Lagos Assembly calls in commissioner and LASU VC over certificate racketeering

The Lagos State House of Assembly decided on Tuesday to invite the school’s Senate, Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Akibu, Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, and other senior staff members in response to accusations of certificate racketeering and extortion made against the institution.

Speaker Mudashiru Obasa decided that in order to preserve the reputation of the postsecondary institution, the relevant officials should be called to brief the chamber, despite the fact that he noted that the story’s source might be questionable.

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Alumni Obasa stated, “I agree that the committee should invite those to establish facts about the allegation, but we must not because of that destroy our institution’s reputation.” She also stated that anyone found in violation would face consequences.

Mover of the motion under the heading “Matter of Urgent Public Importance,” Owolabi Ajani, the legislator, informed his colleagues that in order to obtain direct information, it was necessary to invite the commissioner, VC, and other relevant parties.

He stated that LASU has consistently upheld a high standard of honesty over time, and that standard needs to be maintained.

While Desmond Elliot and his colleague Ladi Ajomale, who claimed to have attended the school as well, supported that the charge be looked into, Sa’ad Olumoh recommended that the probe should involve members of the institution’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) unit.

The House has taken action to make street begging illegal in the interim.

As she responded to the motion, the Speaker insisted that legislation be passed to eradicate the threat in the state.

He claims that it is imperative to address the major issue of street begging in Lagos.

He stressed the necessity of passing legislation that would make the act illegal and punish those who give alms in public.