The Governing Council, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), on Thursday, sacked 18 staff of the institution who were also members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU)., while the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Olusola Oyewole, relieved five others of their appointments earlier this week, bringing the number of staffs sacked to 23.

This decision was taken at the end of a meeting presided over by the Chairman of the Council, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe. According to CEO Africa’s source, Tribune Online, those affected were the three members of the association, Comrades Lasun Somoye, Abdulsalaam Sobbor and E.A Bankole, who allegedly wrote a petition against the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole, over alleged corruption and abuse of office.

The institution’s authorities had placed the trio of Somoye, Salaam and Bankole on indefinite suspension since August 22, before their appointments were finally terminated on Thursday. Others affected were 10 executive members of the association under the chairmanship of Comrade Rotimi Fasunwon and five staff members of the bursary department. Also, five medical staffs of the university were also relieved of their appointments.

Those sacked include three medical doctors, Dr Ajayi A.O, Dr Olaniran I.O and Dr Salami O.O and two health workers, Mr Oyero, a lab scientist and Miss. K.O Adeyemi, a medical record officer.

When contacted, Head, Directorate of Public Relations, FUNAAB, Mrs Emi Alawode, confirmed that there was a meeting of the Council on Thursday, while details of the meeting were not disclosed.

The SSANU chairman at FUNAAB, Comrade Fasunwon, said the sack of 18 members of the association by the Council was “nothing but the truth.” He also confirmed that the three doctors and two health workers had received their letters last Tuesday, and that the association had approached the court over the sack of the medical personnel through its counsel on the development. Fasunwon added that the sack of the 18 members on Thursday was not unexpected, saying: “We expected this development long before now and that is why we are not moved. We are getting to the peak of this matter.”