The Governing Council of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, has officially dismissed a senior lecturer, Dr Usman Aliyu, following allegations of sexual harassment involving a married postgraduate student, Mrs Kamila Aliyu.
The decision was revealed in the university’s official newsletter, ATBU Herald (Vol. 39 No. 5, 22 April), following the institution’s 96th regular council meeting, which was held on 11 April 2025.
According to the publication, which was obtained by our correspondent on Thursday, April 24, the Governing Council approved Dr Aliyu’s dismissal based on the findings of the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee, which concluded that the academic was guilty of misconduct.
The official dismissal letter read:
“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.”
Mrs Kamila Aliyu had submitted a formal petition to the university last year, accusing Dr Aliyu of sexual harassment and claiming he threatened to jeopardise her academic progress unless she met his demands.
In response to the allegations, Dr Aliyu filed a defamation lawsuit against the student, the department, and the university. Nevertheless, the institution continued its internal investigation.
The university maintained that its actions were in accordance with “Chapter 3, Item F, I (o) of the Senior Staff Conditions of Service of the University,” as detailed in a statement signed by Alhaji Abdullahi Suleiman, the Senior Deputy Registrar of Senior Staff Establishment.
The dismissal letter also contained directives for the return of university property.
“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 statement read.
