Mohamed Garba
In a move that emphasizes its commitment to academic integrity, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) has dismissed senior lecturer Dr Usman Aliyu following substantiated allegations of sexual harassment involving a married postgraduate student.
The development was detailed in the university’s official newsletter, ATBU Herald (Vol. 39 No. 5, April 22, 2025), and stems from the findings of the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee. The Governing Council, meeting on April 11, 2025, based its decision on evidence that confirmed Dr Aliyu’s involvement in an indecent relationship with Mrs Kamila Rufai Aliyu, a married postgraduate student in the Department of Chemical Engineering.
The dismissal letter, directed to the lecturer, was unequivocal in its language:
“Following the report of the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee that found you guilty of an indecent relationship involving a student of the university, Mrs Kamila Rufai Aliyu of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Engineering Technology, the council has subsequently approved your dismissal from the services of the university with immediate effect.”
According to sources, Mrs Kamila Aliyu had lodged a formal petition against Dr Aliyu last year, accusing him of sexual harassment and alleging that he had threatened to compromise her academic progress should she refuse his advances. Rather than dismiss these concerns outright, ATBU embarked on a thorough internal investigation even after Dr Aliyu filed a defamation lawsuit against the student, the department, and the institution itself.
Alhaji Abdullahi Suleiman, the Senior Deputy Registrar of Senior Staff Establishment, noted that the dismissal was in accordance with the university’s internal regulations – specifically, “Chapter 3, Item F, I (o) of the Senior Staff Conditions of Service of the University.” He added that university protocol also required the terminated lecturer to return all university property immediately:
“You are hereby directed to hand over all the property of the university in your possession to the Head of Department and your identification card to the Chief Security Officer of the university.”
The swift action taken by ATBU’s Governing Council reflects a broader institutional imperative to maintain a safe and respectful academic environment. Meanwhile, questions remain over the course of events and the impact this case may have on internal policies and staff conduct across Nigerian higher education institutions.
As the university navigates the repercussions of this high-profile case, both the academic community and stakeholders await further clarifications on measures that will be instituted to safeguard students against future misconduct.
