Osun State University disputes military's stance on alleged attack, pursues court option

The management of Osun State University has voiced its disagreement with certain aspects of a statement released by the Depot Nigerian Army, Osogbo, regarding allegations of sexual assault involving military personnel and members of the university community, which were reported by PUNCH Online.

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The Depot Nigerian Army had stated that it has not received any formal complaint or credible evidence to substantiate the rape allegations linked to some recently passed-out personnel, and that an ongoing investigation into allegations of misconduct would be thorough and transparent, as announced by Major Ibrahim Yahaya, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, on Friday.

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In the statement, the Army attributed the allegations to Professor Odunayo Clement Adeboye, the Vice Chancellor of the university, and noted that they had been amplified on social media platforms, prompting the Army to appeal to victims and witnesses of the alleged assault at the UNIOSUN hostels to provide evidence to assist its ongoing investigation.

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The Army also confirmed that the Board of Inquiry earlier constituted to investigate allegations against its personnel remains at work, and is committed to a thorough and transparent investigation into allegations of misconduct involving some recently passed-out military personnel.

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In response, the university welcomed the Army's decision to set up a Board of Inquiry, but expressed concerns over the expectation that alleged victims should report directly to the same institution whose personnel are the subject of the allegations, as stated by the university's Public Relations Officer, Ademola Adesoji, on Friday.

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According to the university, this approach fails to consider the trauma, fear, intimidation, and psychological barriers that often discourage survivors of sexual violence from reporting directly to institutions they may associate with the alleged perpetrators, and therefore, the university rejected any suggestion that it should reveal the identities of affected students or compel them to appear before military authorities.

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Osun State University emphasized that it owes every student a duty of care, confidentiality, and protection, and will not compromise the privacy, dignity, or safety of any student by disclosing identities without their informed consent or in contravention of applicable laws.

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The university reiterated that the welfare and safety of its students remain its top priority, and that the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Odunayo Clement Adeboye, would continue to support students who report harassment, assault, or abuse, as part of the University's responsibility to address concerns affecting the safety and well-being of its students.

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The Vice-Chancellor's earlier comments were made in fulfilment of this responsibility, and were not intended to prejudge the outcome of any investigation or sensationalise the matter, according to the statement.

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The university maintains that investigations into allegations of sexual assault should be victim-centred, independent, transparent, and capable of inspiring public confidence, and believes that survivors of sexual violence should never be placed in circumstances where they may reasonably fear intimidation or victimisation by being required to report directly to those connected with the subject of an investigation.

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UNIOSUN also disagreed with the Depot Nigerian Army's characterisation of the Vice-Chancellor's comments as unconfirmed or potentially misleading, insisting that the remarks were made responsibly, in good faith, and in line with the institution's statutory and moral obligation to protect its students.

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The university has instructed its legal advisers to commence appropriate legal proceedings to safeguard the integrity of the institution, the reputation of the Vice-Chancellor, and the interests of its students, as the appropriate judicial process provides the proper forum for resolving the issues arising from this unfortunate development.