Enugu State Police Command has arrested a lecturer of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Mfonobong Udoudom, for sexually assaulting a married female student in his office.
Mfonobong Udoudom, a lecturer in the School of General Studies at UNN, was taken into custody by the police on Monday and has remained detained since then.
Reports indicate that the lecturer had coerced the female student into a sexual relationship, threatening that she would fail his course unless she complied with his demands.
Trouble began when the students completed their examinations for the lecturer’s course, and he warned some female students that they would fail if they ‘failed to see him’.
The affected female student informed her husband, who lodged a complaint with the university authorities. Subsequently, the university advised the student to cooperate with their investigation.
A video circulating on social media showed the lecturer completely naked until he was later allowed to wear inner boxers after he was caught red-handed.
A voice in the viral video said: “We have been following this case from day one. As you can see, we have all the chats, voice notes, videos and everything.”
Many people who claimed to have been taught by the lecturer shared their experiences, expressing shock and disappointment at his alleged actions.
Commenting on the video, someone said the lecturer taught him Peace and Conflict, a course under General Studies, during his time at UNN.
He said: “That is my lecturer in UNN, he taught us Peace and Conflict under GS in my time. We called him or rather, he called himself ‘The Short Man.’ He was very strict with us in class. It’s unfortunate that he was involved in this.”
Another person said: “Well, it was planned by her husband, UNN security with some students. Even when the lady offered him money, he refused. Well, with this, if he still remains, he will never try that again.”
The management of the university later announced the indefinite suspension of the lecturer pending a thorough investigation by a disciplinary panel.
In a statement on Tuesday, signed by its acting Public Relations Officer, Chief Okwun Omeaku, UNN reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards sexual misconduct and assured of appropriate disciplinary measures if the lecturer is found guilty.
“The management of the University of Nigeria has suspended Mr (not a Professor) Mfonobong David Udoudom, a lecturer in our General Studies division, who was caught in a video allegedly harassing a female student,” the statement partly read.
“The indefinite suspension is with immediate effect pending the outcome of a disciplinary panel constituted by the university to investigate the incident.
“For the records, the University of Nigeria has a zero tolerance for sexual misconduct involving our staff and students. The UNN is among the few universities in the country that has a Sexual Harassment Policy, which guides the relationship between our staff and students in particular and among our male and female staff members.
“As a university, we are committed to protecting our students from any form of abuse and exploitation, and the university management will not hesitate to punish Mr Mfonobong David Udoudom, according to our rules, if he is found guilty by our disciplinary panel.”
It was gathered from sources in the university that shortly before the management slammed the indefinite suspension, the police from the Nsukka Area Command came and picked him up.
“As we speak, he is currently at the Nsukka Police Area Command. But what they do with him is what I don’t know,” said one of the sources who works in the university but pleaded anonymity.
The Enugu State Ministry of Children, Gender Affairs, and Social Development also pledged to ensure justice prevails in the matter, affirming the state’s commitment to eradicating gender-based violence and exploitation under Governor Peter Mbah’s administration.
The Commissioner for Gender, Mrs Ngozi Enih, spoke to our correspondent on the incident saying, “The Ministry of Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development is aware of the matter and is keenly following developments.
“We are aware that the lecturer in question has been suspended indefinitely by the school authorities and an investigative panel has been set up to look into the matter.
“We are very much interested in getting to the root of the matter and there will be no sweeping of anything under the carpet. We are determined to ensure that justice prevails for all.
“Be it known that under the watch of His Excellency, Peter Mbah, Enugu State has zero tolerance for any form of gender-based violence, harassment or exploitation.”
KanyiDaily had also reported how a lecturer of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Joseph Opefeyitimi, 66, was accused of sexually assaulting a 25-year-old female student, Boluwatife Bababunmi in his office.
