Eniola Yekini
The management of Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), Ekiti State, Nigeria, said it viewed with serious displeasure insinuations contained in a news story making the rounds entitled: “A call to probe Roland Otaru’s mystery Professor of Law title,” purportedly circulated on social media by unknown and faceless writer, Comrade K. Akanbi S.A.L.
The story, according to a press release by the Public Relations Officer of the institution,Foluso Ogunmodede contrived to portray that Dr. Roland Otaru, the Edo State Justice Commissioner and Attorney-General obtained his FUOYE’s Professor by fraud is a falsehood taken too far.
“First, the faceless writer’s story is a story of pursuit of self interests not only against Dr. Otaru but FUOYE’s.
” The story is not only spiteful, malicious but unfounded claims that Otaru, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria did not have a direct link to FUOYE.
“Second, the alleged Professor of Law title did not emanate from FUOYE. We did not bestow Professor of Law title on the Senior Advocate.
“As a matter of fact we will put the record straight thus;
“Dr. Otaru was appointed a Professor of Practice and not Professor of Law by the management of Federal University Oye Ekiti as approved by the university having satisfied requirements of Professor of Practice on December 9, 2024.
“Professor Otaru was not alone. There were three other eminently qualified Nigerians and Senior Advocates appointed by the university following their proficiency in their areas of practice.
“They are Professors Doyin Awoyale SAN, Sabastine T. Hon, SAN and Lawrence Fubara Anga SAN.
“All are Professors of Practice appointed by the university for the purpose of adding values to the university’s Faculty of Law.
“Also, we need to reiterate that the author of the alleged petition, Comrade K. Akanbi S. A. L is unknown to FUOYE as he is neither our bonafide student nor member of the university community.
“We stand by our Professor of Practice, Roland Otaru and we confirm that he remains the university’s Professor of Practice as approved on December 9, 2024 by the university.”
The statement added that “The university is aware that the same asinine claims have gone viral, the public is enjoined to disregard the alleged petition as of no value.”