Abiodun Atunbi, a member of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, chapter, crushed by the institution’s Vice Chancellor’s car, has been hospitalized, SaharaReporters can authoritatively report
Mr. Atunbi sustained serious injuries as well as bruises on his face, arms and legs in the accident. Professor Adebiyi Daramola, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, at about 8.30am on Monday, car rammed Atunbi on Bank Road at Oba’nla inside the main campus of the institution.
Speaking from his hospital bed in Akure, Mr. Atunbi told SaharaReporters that Professor Daramola purposely hit him with his car during a prayer meeting held by protesting staff of the institution.
He disclosed that the university is currently in crisis, as academic activities have been paralyzed, following the strike embarked upon by the three staff unions of the institution.
“While I joined others in awaiting the arrival of the clergymen, the JAF Chairman, Mr. Dele Durojaiye, called on all of us to walk down to the Bank Road near the institution’s roundabout.
“We got there, and I stood at the back where others had already converged. Later, I saw an SUV driving by, but I never knew it was the Vice Chancellor’s car. The next thing I knew was it had hit and run over me.
“I lost consciousness. I was rushed to a vehicle and taken to the hospital for treatment, and it was when I got here [hospital] that I could recollect the incident,” said Mr. Atunbi.
When asked if he was standing by the road when he was hit, Mr. Atunbi said he was very far from the main road. The vehicle just rammed into me; I was not holding any weapon. So, I don’t know why I deserve this from my Vice Chancellor,” he told SaharaReporters.
A police source that pleaded anonymity had earlier confirmed to SaharaReporters that the incident was reported to the Police, which whisked Professor Daramola to the station.
“The Vice Chancellor was arrested and taken to our station at the State Investigation Bureau in Akure before he was later taken to Okuta Elerinla Police Station for further interrogation,” disclosed the Police source.
He added that the timely intervention of the police prevented the protesting unionists from lynching the Vice Chancellor, who has been accused of fraud in involving university funds, as revealed by the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
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