A Nigerian private institution, Babcock University, has dismissed Oladipupo Siwajuola, a student who allegedly went missing, after investigations revealed that he had secretly left the campus disguised as an outpatient, and was involved in drug peddling, and fetish practices among others. The university described his actions as a gross violation of its rules and moral code.
Master Siwajuola, a one academic year student of the Joint University Preliminary Examination Board (JUPEB), left the university premises on 28 April without authorisation and without the knowledge of any staff member or fellow student.
His sudden disappearance sparked panic, prompting his mother to take to social media on 3 May, where she accused the university of negligence and complicity in the circumstances surrounding her son’s whereabouts.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the university’s Director of Marketing and Communication, Joshua Suleiman, Master Siwajuola was brought back to the school by his father on 15 May, where he provided a detailed written statement on the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, following an invitation by the university’s Security Services Department.
After a thorough investigation by the institution’s disciplinary committee, Master Siwajuola was found liable for multiple acts of misconduct, including unauthorised exit (exeat violation), possession and use of fetish materials, drug peddling on campus, impersonation and dishonesty, as well as the unauthorised sale of personal property.
In view of the gravity of these offences, and in line with the university’s disciplinary policy, which is designed to maintain a safe, secure, and morally sound learning environment, Master Siwajuola was dismissed with immediate effect.
However, the statement noted that he reserves the right to appeal the university’s decision, in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the students’ handbook.
Siwajuola confesses to fetish practices, drug peddling
In a voluntary statement submitted to the Security Services Department and the Disciplinary Committee of Babcock University, Master Siwajuola detailed a premeditated plan to leave the school unnoticed, alongside a string of confessions that contradicted his mother’s public narrative.
According to the university’s statement, he admitted to deliberately leaving the campus during a peak movement period. He exited through the university teaching hospital’s gate, disguised in a hoodie as an out-patient, and spent two nights in the nearby Ilishan community before travelling to Lagos on the third day.
Contrary to claims made by his mother that his secondary school friends found him, Master Siwajuola disclosed that it was the mother of his friend, Sodiq, who discovered he was in their house in Lagos. She reportedly informed him of the media reports concerning his disappearance and promptly returned him to his mother.
Further revelations from him included the origin of a controversial black soap found in his possession prior to his disappearance. While his mother had previously stated the soap was given to him for a skin condition, Master Siwajuola confessed it was purchased from a traditional herbalist, Alfa Yusuf, at about ₦100,000. He admitted that the soap was part of fetish practices, commonly referred to as “Yahoo Yahoo Plus”, which he said he had engaged in as part of an attempt to acquire wealth quickly.
Master Siwajuola had prior to his disappearance committed a series of disciplinary breaches. He was reportedly involved in the sale of prohibited drug substances on campus and had previously been apprehended by Security Officers. Additionally, he was found to have impersonated another student by using the individual’s National Identification Number (NIN) to open a bank account.
He also admitted to selling his mobile phone without authorisation, falsely informing the buyer that his father had approved the sale. He further confessed to borrowing ₦500,000 from an online loan platform to finance gambling-related activities.
According to the university, Master Siwajuola’s confessions not only contradict earlier claims made by his mother but also suggest her prior awareness of some of her son’s misconducts, particularly his use of herbal substances and interaction with a traditional practitioner.
Mum’s outburst on social media
Master Siwajuola had on 3 May taken to social media, asking Babcock University to provide information about her son’s whereabouts.
In her post, she accused the university of lack of accountability, saying,, “Babcock University Ilishan, could you please inform me about the whereabouts of my son, Oladipupo Siwajuola?
“It has been over 72 hours since I last spoke to my son. I personally dropped him off at school on Monday, 27 April, as I always do, and I have been unable to locate him since then. Please provide information about my son’s whereabouts. My family and I should not suffer due to your lack of accountability. My son is not a piece of furniture.”
The university, however, described her allegations as misleading, stating that the insinuation of its complicity in the student’s disappearance was both false and defamatory.
“We remain committed to nurturing responsible citizens and upholding our legacy as a citadel of excellence and character. We encourage parents and guardians to partner with us responsibly, respecting institutional processes rather than resorting to public misrepresentation and unfounded accusations.” it stated.