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Staff members of the Osun State University, UNIOSUN, brought the staff verification and audit exercise organised by the state government to a standstill on Friday. The UNIOSUN staff accused the consultant of molestation, marking the second disruption to the state-organised verification exercise.

Earlier, the state judiciary staff had disrupted the exercise, alleging verbal assault by the same consultant, Sa’adat Bakrin-Ottun. The disruption by UNIOSUN staff was instigated when the consultant was accused of referring to a professor as a bastard, according to Dr Damilare Adekomi, the Secretary of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, UNIOSUN chapter.

Adekomi further claimed that Bakrin-Ottun had tormented and verbally abused staff members, demeaning their status throughout the duration of the exercise. He denounced this mistreatment, stating, “Staff members were humiliated, tormented, and verbally abused. Staff members of Osun State University are human beings and deserve respect.”

He continued, “How on earth would the consultant address a professor as a bastard? That is the height of it. I can’t even address my student as a bastard, let alone a professor.”

The allegations were refuted by Bakrin-Ottun, who dismissed them as fabrications. She claimed that a staff member at the university had called her a bastard, prompting her to leave the scene.

“To say I am in shock is an understatement over the alleged altercation,” Bakrin-Ottun stated. “I am surprised because these are university staff; since 9 am we have been facing one problem after another. One of them addressed me as a bastard, and I said, ‘You called me a bastard?’ I turned around and entered my car. All those allegations are mere fabrications.”

The disruption was eventually resolved with the intervention of UNIOSUN Vice Chancellor, Professor Clement Adebooye. The staff audit was able to resume, allowing more members of staff to complete the verification process.