Nigeria’s Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned one Dr. Balogun Olaniran, a lecturer of the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, for sexually harassing a female student and demanding money from her.
Olaniran was arraigned before Justice Osinuga of the Ijebu-Ode High Court sitting in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State on one count for violating Section 8(1) (a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Prosecuting counsel for the ICPC told the court that Olaniran, as the Head of the Department of Religious Studies at TASUED sometime between October and November 2021, demanded sexual benefit or the payment of the sum of N100,000 from a female student with a promise to alter her academic grades.
Part of the charge reads: “(Dr. Balogun Olaniran), within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, corruptly demanded for sexual benefit or payment of the sum of N100,000 for himself from … (name withheld), a female student, on account of a favour to be afterwards shown her in the discharge of his official duties as a lecturer and Head of Department of Religious Studies at the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ijebu Ode, to wit, offering to alter her academic grades from fail to pass in courses with codes EDU 311 and EDU 312”.
The defendant pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him, hence, the trial judge admitted him to bail in the sum of N500,000 with one surety in like sum.
Justice Osinuga also ordered that the surety must provide evidence of 3 years of tax clearance and evidence of means.
The judge adjourned the matter to May 11, 2023, for the commencement of trial.