The Lagos State Chapter of the Take It Back Movement has welcomed the dismissal of Professor Olatunji Tajudeen Fasasi Abanikanda, Dean of the School of Agriculture at Lagos State University (LASU), following multiple allegations of inhumane treatment, sexual harassment, and other serious misconduct involving students and staff.
The decision comes after the Movement and concerned students, jointly demanded accountability and justice for victims of abuse within the institution.
The university’s Governing Council, at its 143rd Statutory Meeting held on Thursday, July 3, 2025, approved the dismissal of Professor Abanikanda based on the findings of the Joint Council-Senate Disciplinary Committee.
The Committee’s report revealed several disturbing infractions, including forcing 400-level students to remain on the university farm from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. without food, water, or breaks—even during heavy rainfall, an act deemed prejudicial to the security of the university.
He was also found guilty of sexually harassing female students, subjecting staff and students to emotional trauma and threats, and unlawfully collecting money from both groups in violation of LASU regulations.
In the same disciplinary action, the Council also approved the dismissal of Dr. Khadeejah Olufunke Kareem-Ibraheem, a Lecturer I and Coordinator of the Department of Animal Sciences at the Epe Campus.
Dr. Kareem-Ibraheem was found guilty of dereliction of duty for failing to adhere to the university’s approved curriculum and guidelines for the Farm Practical Year (FPY), thereby exposing students to hard labor. Additionally, she was indicted for failing to remit over ₦10.6 million generated from farm produce sales into the university’s account, instead keeping the funds in her personal bank account.
The university described these acts as serious misconduct and stated that they were in clear violation of the institution’s Conditions of Service for Senior Staff. Both dismissals take effect from July 3, 2025.
The Take It Back Movement had earlier written to the Vice Chancellor of the university on May 19, 2025, raising concerns over the treatment of students under Professor Abanikanda.
In a letter dated May 20, the university acknowledged receipt of the complaint and assured that an internal investigation would be conducted with utmost seriousness, stating that student welfare remains a core priority of the institution.
Reacting to the outcome, the Lagos State Chapter of the Take It Back Movement issued a statement saying, “After weeks of intense pressure, LASU has officially dismissed Prof. Olatunji Abanikanda over multiple allegations of student abuse. Students accused him of forced labor, emotional and psychological abuse, grade manipulation, sexual harassment, and spiritual threats.
“This is a major victory for student rights, accountability, and the fight against abuse of power in our universities. The struggle continues, but today, justice won.”
Professor Olatunji Abanikanda was accused in May 2025 of subjecting students to degrading and inhumane treatment during their practical coursework on the department’s farm.
This was after a viral video was posted on Facebook that showed students left shivering in the sun and rain without shelter while under Abanikanda’s supervision.
Abanikanda reportedly kept them outdoors until 10.30 on the evening that the video was taken because they “did not thank him” after having been punished that way since that morning.
An audio clip later surfaced in which Abanikanda described himself as a “Sango worshipper” and threatened to deal with students “physically and spiritually”.
In another audio, recorded on the department’s farm, Abanikanda questioned a student’s audacity to keep sitting when asked to stand. The student explained that his leg was hurting, but Abanikanda asked whether standing was meant to placate him or make him comfortable.
On 17 May this year, fourth-year agriculture students were working on a new farm to plant cassava. Having been dissatisfied with the pace of the work, Abanikanda ordered some of the students to stand in the sun as punishment and asked fifth-year students to abandon their lectures and join in. The students were left outside while Abanikanda remained in his apartment.
According to Adejo Yusuph, an alumnus of the department, it had rained earlier that morning, and some of the students had left home as early as 7am. Many had not eaten or were without shelter until about 7pm, when some of them left.
When Abanikanda finally came out, he was furious, according to Yusuph, he threatened to fail those who had left. “After releasing them, some didn’t say thank you, so he made them stay until 10.30pm. He let them go only when the video started trending,” Yusuph told University World News.
He added that Abanikanda later called on students “to change the media narrative if they wanted to pass”. Yusuph further claimed that students were taught few practical skills during their five years of study and that they are reportedly used as labourers instead of being instructed by experienced farmers.
Recounting his own experience as a student, Yusuph said they would be taken to the farm from 5am to 6pm and made to perform what he described as “useless tasks” without gaining experience, yield, or profit. He described the period as “a waste of time”.
He also made it known that their practical year was marked by abuse, restrictions on students’ movements, and forced labour.
“Students weren’t allowed to leave the farm, even for water. A friend of mine, Fatimah, was slapped. We were also made to pay for bird feed despite school funds being allocated for it. Those who refused were threatened with an extra year.”
Yusuph said students were often punished arbitrarily and that Abanikanda sometimes instructed other lecturers to fail students who offended him, even if they weren’t taking his course. “The FPY (Farm Practical Year) is supposed to build students’ profiles, but many who participated still failed for no reason.”
Yusuph criticised the farm as a toxic learning environment: “How can someone spend five years in a practical course and still not be employable? I only survived because I had prior experience. Some students leave without even a basic knowledge of farming.”
Despite acres of farmland and assigned courses, he said there was no structured learning. “Skilled farmers should have been be hired, but he [Abanikanda allegedly] blocked that. Students were turned into carpenters, plumbers, and bricklayers instead of learning [farming]. Then they were punished unfairly,” he added.
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