UNIBEN lecturer arrested for extortion

University of Benin

Authorities of the University of Benin, Edo State, on Tuesday, ordered the arrest of a senior lecturer in the institution over allegations of extortion.

The arrest followed a sting operation by the authorities which reportedly led to the bursting of a syndicate that specialised in extortion of students, and the arrest of an Assistant Dean, at the Faculty of Law.

The lecturer, said to be a kingpin in the syndicate, was arrested by men from the university’s security unit after he allegedly collected marked money from a female undergraduate.

The don, according to unconfirmed sources, represents his faculty in a committee constituted by management to coordinate students’ inter-faculty movement during the academic session.

The lecturer, it was said, demanded N150, 000 from the student to facilitate her move from the English Department, in Faculty of Art, to the Law faculty.

The student, unable to come up with the money, reported the matter to another lecturer, who encouraged her to formally lodge a complaint with the school authority, a source who pleaded anonymity, said.

The student it was learnt, was directed to play along. She called the lecturer and told him she could only afford N100,000.

The lecturer, it was said, directed her to pay into a bank account number.

The student was, however, instructed to deliver the money to him at the office.

Men from the institution’s security unit swooped on the lecturer as soon as he collected the marked money and handed him over to the police.

Said a source, “When his office was searched, security personnel discovered a list containing names of 18 students, including the female student.”

Confirming the story, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Harrison Osarenren, said the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Godwin Oshodin had been briefed on the development.

He said, “The Vice-Chancellor, who frowns at such act and who has consistently preached against extortion of any kind, will ensure that appropriate sanction is meted out to those found culpable.”

Source: Punch