ATBU Fires Lecturer Over Sexual Harassment Of Married Student

The Governing Council of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, has dismissed Dr. Usman Aliyu, a senior lecturer, over allegations of sexual harassment involving a married postgraduate student, Mrs. Kamila Aliyu.

The dismissal was announced in the university’s official newsletter, ATBU Herald (Vol. 39 No. 5, April 22), following the 96th regular council meeting on April 11, 2025. The decision came after the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee found Dr. Aliyu guilty of misconduct.

The dismissal letter 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.”

The Governing Council of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, has dismissed Dr. Usman Aliyu, a senior lecturer, over allegations of sexual harassment involving a married postgraduate student, Mrs. Kamila Aliyu.

The dismissal was announced in the university’s official newsletter, ATBU Herald (Vol. 39 No. 5, April 22), following the 96th regular council meeting on April 11, 2025. The decision came after the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee found Dr. Aliyu guilty of misconduct.

In response to the allegations, Dr. Aliyu filed a defamation lawsuit against the student, the department, and the university. However, despite the ongoing lawsuit, the university continued with its internal investigations.

The Governing Council’s decision to dismiss Dr. Aliyu was based on “Chapter 3, Item F, I (o) of the Senior Staff Conditions of Service of the University,” as stated by the Senior Deputy Registrar, Senior Staff Establishment, Alhaji Abdullahi Suleiman.

The dismissal letter also instructed the lecturer to return all 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 directive stated.