UNIOSUN rejects Army position on assault claims, seeks legal action

THE management of Osun State University has rejected aspects of the statement issued by the Depot Nigerian Army, Osogbo, over allegations of sexual assault reportedly involving some military personnel and members of the university community.

In a statement issued on Friday by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Depot Nigerian Army Osogbo, Major Ibrahim Yahaya, the Army stated that the allegations had been attributed to the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Odunayo Clement Adebooye, and amplified on social media platforms.

The army appealed to victims and witnesses of the alleged assault at the UNIOSUN hostels to provide evidence to assist its ongoing investigation into allegations of misconduct involving some recently passed-out military personnel.

It, however, said the Board of Inquiry earlier constituted to investigate allegations against its personnel remains at work.

In a statement released on Friday by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Ademola Adesoji, the institution welcomed the Army’s decision to set up a Board of Inquiry but expressed concerns over the expectation that alleged victims should report directly to the same institution whose personnel are the subject of the allegations.

According to the university, such an approach does not take into account the trauma, fear, intimidation and psychological barriers that often discourage survivors of sexual violence from reporting directly to institutions they may associate with the alleged perpetrators.