…As Ghanaian University denies sex for grades among lecturers***
A lecturer, Aminu Chedi, was on Tuesday brought before a Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Kano for allegedly extorting students to enable them pass their examination, just as a prestigious West African universities, the University of Ghana refuted an alleged BBC documentary sex scandal.
Chedi, a 45- year-old lecturer at the Kano State Polytechnic, is standing trial for a one-count of collecting gratification in the course of carrying out his official duty.
He however pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecutor, ASP Badamasi Gawuna, told the court that the defendant directed one Jibrin, an ex-student of the polytechnic who is now at large, to dishonestly collect money from National Diploma (ND) students of the Department of Statistics of the institution, on August 9.
The money was to enable them pass their English Language examination, the prosecutor said.
“Jibril also passed the information to one Ibrahim Yusuf, the Class Captain of the ND2 class who was not in town and Bashir Muhammad,” he said.
Gawuna also alleged that the defendant directed the said Jibril to collect the sum of N1,000 from each of the students.
“In the process, Jibril collected N11,200 from few students and wrote their registration numbers,” Gawuna explained to the court.
He said that the offence contravened Section 115 of the Penal Code and Section 22 of Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, 2008, as amended.
Chief Magistrate Muhammad Idris granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with two reliable sureties in which one must be the Rector or a Director in the Polytechnic.
He adjourned the matter until Oct. 15 for hearing.
Also read: ASUU condemns ‘Sex for Grades’, demands thorough investigation, sanction for offenders
In the meantime, one of the most prestigious universities in West Africa, the University of Ghana, has refuted an alleged BBC documented sex scandal.
Chairperson of the anti-sexual harassment committee of the university, Margaret Amoakohene, said in an interview that she disagrees with the sex for grades tag saying there is no evidence showing that some lecturers have slept with students to give them better grades.
This came after two of the university’s profound lecturers, Ransford Gyampo and Paul Kwame Butakor, were accused of Sex for Grades.
The university said the misconduct allegations leveled against its lecturers were extremely disturbing.
She added that the university had a pro-active policy on sexual harassment and was committed to rooting out the problem from the University of Ghana.
President of the university’s Students Representative Council, Isaac Agyeman, also advised students who may have fallen victims to such demands from lecturers to cooperate with any interrogation that may come if the need arises.