NEWS

BUKOLA DAKOLO, OTHERS, ACCUSE PASTOR OF RAPE

Recently, a huge storm hit both social and news media platform in Nigeria, where Busola Dakolo, wife of Timi Dakolo, accused Biodun Fatoyinbo, the pastor of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) of raping her as a teenager in an interview with Chude Jideonwo of YNaija.

It should be noted that this is not the first time Biodun Fatoyinbo gets accused of rape and had illicit sexual relations with under-age women who are his church members. In 2013, one Ese Walter set the internet space abuzz when she alleged, via Facebook post, that she had an illicit love affair with Fatoyinbo while she was studying for her Masters’ degree in London. According to her, Fatoyinbo had gained her trust, favour, and confidence over the one-year period she was attending his church before she travelled abroad. However, this only caused a mild stir and was quickly shut down by members of the church, who went on a rampage, declaring their pastor free of the crime.

However, sequel to Bukola Dakolo's confession, many women under the Twitter hastags #MeToo and #IStandWithBukolaDakolo, have taken to social media platforms to reveal the sexual abuse they have gone through in the past, particularly from either the COZA church or other circumstances. A can of worms was opened to reveal Biodun's ugly past, in which it was revealed that the pastor had narrowly escaped being lynched in Kwara State many years ago for the same alleged accusation of rape.

With the Police is turning a blind eye towards the situation, a band of protestors, United under the hashtag #IStandWithBukolaDakolo arrived at COZA headquarters on Sunday, 30th of June, 2019 to air their grievances and demand that the Biodun Fatoyinbo to step down in light of the various rape accusations filed against him. However, the church members do not appear to believe these accusations, because apart from forming a human blockade to counter protestors, service in church went on as smoothly as possible, with the officiating pastor being Biodun Fatoyinbo himself.

The next day, things took a turn for the worse, however, as Biodun Fatoyinbo finally announced his intent to step down from his post temporarily. This was not nearly enough for the protestors, many claiming that Biodun Fatoyinbo had not addressed the rape allegations levied against him to a reasonable extent, and did not appear to be willing to do so anytime soon.

THE FACULTY GETS CLINICAL STUDENTS VACCINATED AGAINST RABIES

The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine will on Thursday, 4th July, 2019 get her clinical students vaccinated against rabies. According to an Internal Memorandum released by the Sub-Dean Clinics, Dr O. O. Esan, 500 level students will receive the first dose of the antirabies vaccination at the University Health Center and they will get the second dose of the vaccination two weeks later. Likewise, 600 level students will take booster dose of the vaccination during the first week of October, 2019. The procedure, according to Dr Esan, shall be obligatory for clinical students because of their risk of exposure to potential sources. 500 level students are to pay #9,000 for the vaccination while 600 had made their payment in the last academic session. “All students should prepare for the procedure and we should not have to restrain any students to get vaccinated,” Dr Esan said during a conversation with 500 level students. However, the faculty will exclude pregnant and lactating students from the procedure. Also, students with current antirabies pre- and post- exposure vaccination should submit relevant evidence to the University Health Service as they will also be excluded from the procedure.

UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN INCREASES WELFARISM OF HER STUDENTS

The Director of Teaching and Research Farm, on June 25, 2019 released an Internal Memorandum indicating his interest of making studentship “more enjoyable” for students of the university. He revealed that the Teaching and Research Farm has introduced the special package of farm produce for the students to acquire at reduced prices. This package includes eggs, chicken, garri, palm-oil and other produce. According to a reliable source, the products will be a bit cheaper than what students will get if they go elsewhere to purchase them. “This is one of the ways the university makes learning easier of her students,” the source added.