Joseph Opefeyitimi, a professor of Yoruba Incantations and Stylistics in the Department of Linguistics and African Languages in Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has been accused of sexual assault.
The departmental committee of the school which sat on the matter recommended that appropriate disciplinary sanctions should be taken against Opefeyitimi.
A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Abiodun Olanrewaju, noted that the victim, Boluwatife Bababunmi, of the same department, had petitioned the university management, alleging that Opefeyitimi, whom she had placed so highly by virtue of his position, sexually assaulted her in his office.
Olanrewaju said, “The unwholesome incident, which happened on March 18, 2022, prompted Boluwatife Hannah Bababunmi of the Department of Linguistics and African Languages, to write a petition to the university management against Joseph Ayo Opefeyitimi, a professor of Yoruba Incantations and Stylistics, of the same department, on March 21, 2022.
“Procedurally, after the receipt of the formal complaints, the first step was that the departmental committee sat on the matter and, after thorough investigation, Professor Opefeyitimi was found prima facie liable.
“Second stage was the faculty level and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Professor Niyi Okunoye, referred the matter to the anti-sexual harassment committee of the university. The committee, which also sat and cl