By Ghazali Ibrahim 
The Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Professor Olumuyiwa Odusanya, is facing mounting pressure to step aside following serious allegations of corruption and financial misconduct leveled against him by a coalition of rights activists.
The United Action for Democracy (UAD), a group comprising pro-democracy and human rights campaigners, has called for Professor Odusanya’s immediate suspension, citing what it describes as a “clear threat to the stability and credibility” of the institution.
In a petition addressed to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and dated March 26, 2025, the group accused the Vice-Chancellor of mismanaging over N2 billion allocated for departmental accreditation.
The group claimed that the funds were diverted in collaboration with the university’s Head of Procurement and Auditor.
“The continued stay of the Vice-Chancellor in office threatens the stability of the institution, endangers its credibility, and may trigger an uncontrollable internal crisis among academic staff, non-academic staff, and students,” the petition warned.
Signed by Kazeem Oloyede, Acting Organising Secretary of UAD, the petition painted a grim picture of what it called unchecked financial recklessness within LASUSTECH.
It alleged that contracts originally valued at N20 million were inflated to N50 million, resulting in massive losses for the institution.
“We have received multiple petitions from within the university community,” Oloyede said.
“Staff and students alike are expressing outrage over what appears to be an entrenched culture of mismanagement. The procurement process has been hijacked, and the Vice-Chancellor is at the center of it.”
UAD further alleged that contract awards bypassed due process and violated the Lagos State Public Procurement Law of 2021.
It also accused Professor Odusanya of using the university’s Wema Bank account specifically account number 012418168 for questionable transactions.
The group said the alleged corruption has sparked rising tensions on campus and warned that protests could erupt if the issue is not addressed quickly.
“There is growing resentment. The institution is nearing the brink, and something must be done urgently,” Oloyede added.
According to the petition, law enforcement agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Lagos State Police Command, have been notified, and preliminary investigations are already underway.
To restore public confidence and prevent further financial damage, UAD called for the immediate suspension of Professor Odusanya, the appointment of an interim administration, and a comprehensive forensic audit of the N2 billion accreditation fund.
It also urged that all individuals implicated in the alleged fraud be prosecuted.
“The global academic community is watching,” UAD warned.
“Any failure to act decisively will not only damage the reputation of LASUSTECH but also bring national embarrassment to Lagos State and Nigeria’s education sector as a whole.”
As pressure mounts, all eyes are now on Governor Sanwo-Olu and how the Lagos State government will respond to the growing demands for accountability at one of the state’s leading tertiary institutions.
