By Emmanuel Kwada
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) in Bauchi has sacked Dr. Usman Mohammed Aliyu, a senior lecturer, following a damning investigation into sexual harassment allegations leveled against him by a postgraduate student.
The dismissal, greenlit during the university’s Governing Council’s 96th regular meeting on April 11, 2025, marks a decisive stand against misconduct within the institution’s hallowed halls.
The Council has subsequently approved your dismissal from the service of the University
The university’s official publication, ATBU HERALD, detailed the explosive case in a Special Bulletin released on April 22, 2025. Dr. Aliyu, once a respected figure in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Engineering Technology, was found guilty of pursuing an “indecent relationship” with Mrs. Kamila Rufai Aliyu, a postgraduate student under his supervision.
The verdict came after a meticulous probe by the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee, whose recommendation the Council upheld without hesitation.
You are hereby directed to hand over all property of the University in your possession to your Head of Department and your identification card to the Chief Security Officer
In a dismissal letter penned by Abdullahi Sulaiman, Senior Deputy Registrar of the Senior Staff Establishment, Dr. Aliyu’s fate was sealed with immediate effect. “The Council has subsequently approved your dismissal from the service of the University,” the letter declared.
“You are hereby directed to hand over all property of the University in your possession to your Head of Department and your identification card to the Chief Security Officer.” The action, grounded in Chapter 3, Item F, I, (o) of the Senior Staff Conditions of Service, underscores ATBU’s zero-tolerance policy toward such transgressions.
The saga began in 2024 when Mrs. Kamila Rufai Aliyu lodged a formal complaint with the university management, accusing Dr. Aliyu of sexually harassing her and leveraging threats to derail her academic progress if she resisted.
Her courage in speaking out triggered a firestorm that ultimately led to the lecturer’s downfall. In a desperate bid to salvage his reputation, Dr. Aliyu retaliated last year by filing a defamation lawsuit against Mrs. Kamila, her department, and the university itself—an effort that crumbled in the face of the committee’s findings.
The dismissal has sent shockwaves through ATBU’s academic community, spotlighting the pervasive issue of sexual harassment in Nigerian universities.
Mrs. Kamila’s case, while a personal victory, highlights the broader challenges students face in confronting predatory behavior within academic settings.
The university’s swift and resolute response has been hailed by some as a step toward accountability, though it also raises questions about the mechanisms in place to prevent such incidents from festering unchecked.
For Dr. Aliyu, the end of his tenure at ATBU is a stark fall from grace, stripping him of his position and leaving his career in tatters.
Meanwhile, the institution moves forward, its Governing Council signaling that no one—regardless of rank—is above the rules. As the dust settles, ATBU’s community watches closely, hoping this landmark decision sets a precedent for justice and integrity in the ivory tower.
