The Governing Council of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, has terminated the appointment of Dr. Usman Aliyu following substantiated allegations of sexual harassment involving a married postgraduate student.
The dismissal was announced in the university’s official newsletter, ATBU Herald (Vol. 39 No. 5, April 22), which detailed the decision reached during the 96th regular council meeting held on April 11, 2025.
According to the publication obtained by our correspondent on Thursday, the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee found Dr. Aliyu guilty of misconduct after thorough investigations into the complaint filed by Mrs. Kamila Rufai Aliyu, a postgraduate student in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Engineering Technology.
The dismissal letter, as quoted in the publication, stated: “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.”
Sources within the university revealed that Mrs. Aliyu had filed a formal petition last year, accusing the lecturer of making unwanted sexual advances and threatening to sabotage her academic progress if she refused his demands.
Professor Ibrahim Mohammed, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, speaking to our correspondent under condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the case, said: “The university has zero tolerance for any form of harassment. This decision sends a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated regardless of one’s position in the institution.”
Dr. Fatima Usman, a gender rights advocate and lecturer at the University of Jos, commended ATBU’s decisive action. “This is a significant step in addressing the pervasive issue of sexual harassment in our tertiary institutions. Too often, such cases are swept under the carpet or the victims are intimidated into silence,” she told our correspondent.
In what appears to be a countermeasure to the allegations, Dr. Aliyu had filed a defamation lawsuit against Mrs. Aliyu, the department, and the university. However, this legal action did not deter the university from proceeding with its internal disciplinary process.
The council’s decision was based on “Chapter 3, Item F, I (o) of the Senior Staff Conditions of Service of the University,” according to a statement released by the Senior Deputy Registrar, Senior Staff Establishment, Alhaji Abdullahi Suleiman.
The dismissed lecturer has been directed to return all university property in his possession, with the dismissal letter specifically instructing: “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.”
When contacted, Mrs. Kamila Aliyu declined to comment, citing the ongoing legal proceedings. Her lawyer, Barrister Ahmed Mahmud, however, stated: “My client is relieved that the university has taken appropriate action. This vindicates her courage in speaking out despite the threats and intimidation she faced.”
The National Association of Nigerian Students, ATBU chapter, has welcomed the development. “This decision by the Governing Council restores confidence in the system and encourages other victims to speak out,” said Comrade Bashir Usman, the association’s president.
The dismissal comes amid growing concerns about sexual harassment in Nigerian universities. Last year, the National Universities Commission issued stricter guidelines on sexual harassment policies for all tertiary institutions, following several high-profile cases across the country.
