Scandal Rocks UNIABUJA As Professor Holds HOD Position While On Sabbatical Leave
A fresh controversy has hit Yakubu Gowon University, formerly known as the University of Abuja, following revelations that a senior academic, Professor Jibrin Edicha Abdullahi, retained his position as Head of the Department (HOD) of Geography and Environmental Science despite being on a one-year sabbatical at the National Defence College.
Documents indicate that Abdullahi, who was promoted from Associate Professor to Professor under questionable circumstances, was reappointed as HOD on 31st July 2023 for a two-year tenure.
However, just two months later, he applied for a one-year sabbatical leave, which was granted by the university authorities on 7th October 2024.
Rather than stepping down as HOD before embarking on his sabbatical, Abdullahi allegedly continued to wield influence within the department.
Sources within the university allege that he remained actively involved in university affairs, including chairing disciplinary committee meetings and issuing directives, despite being away from campus.
“This is unprecedented. How can someone be on sabbatical at another institution and still function as HOD? This is the kind of administrative manipulation we have been battling,” a staff member who spoke under anonymity said.
The situation has sparked outrage among students and faculty members, with many questioning how Abdullahi was allowed to retain his position while supposedly engaging in research at the National Defence College.
Critics have linked the irregularity to the influence of the former Vice-Chancellor, Prof Abdulrasheed Na’Allah, and the former Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof Aisha Maikudi, dubbing the anomaly “Aisha’s Magic.”
A senior academic staff member further queried, “Is it possible for a Vice-Chancellor to approve a sabbatical leave for an HOD without first replacing him? How can one person be holding two different positions in two institutions at the same time?”
When contacted, Prof Abdullahi dismissed the allegations, stating that he had relinquished his position as HOD in January.
“It is not true. I left the department in January. I am no longer the HOD, and I have not been to the university in the past three weeks,” he said.
However, his defence has done little to douse the controversy, as multiple sources insist that he continued to function in an official capacity even after his sabbatical leave commenced.
The university’s spokesperson, Dr Habib Yakoob, declined to comment on the matter, saying, “Well, thank you for reaching out. I don’t have any comment on this matter at the moment.”
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
