#SexForGrades Scandal: Friend Of Embattled UNILAG Lecturer, Dr. Boniface Igbeneghu Makes Fresh Revelations
A close friend of the embattled UNILAG lecturer, Dr. Boniface Igbeneghu who was indicted in the viral sex-for-grades scandal, has made some fresh revelations about the alleged randy lecturer and pastor.
Dr. Igbeneghu, a former sub-dean of Faculty of Art and head pastor of local Foursquare Gospel Church was caught on camera a few days ago demanding sex from a lady seeking admission.
Dr Igbeneghu’s advances were captured in a 13-minute video by BBC Africa, courtesy of an undercover journalist, Kiki Mordi, who disguised as a 17-year-old admission seeker.
The 13-minute documentary, which focused on the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the University of Ghana, exposed sexual harassment in public institutions (Read Here). Igbeneghu had disclosed in the video that there is a place lecturers take female students to have fun – UNILAG Staff Club. “They call the place cold room,” he said.
He was also heard in one of the videos telling the undercover reporter to switch off the light so he could kiss her.
As at the moment, a total of four lecturers in the two institutions, Dr. Boniface Igbeneghu and Dr. Samuel Oladipo of the University of Lagos as well as University of Ghana lecturers, Professor Ransford Gyampo and Dr. Paul Kwame Butakor, who were all secretly filmed sexually harassing undercover BBC reporters have been suspended pending ongoing investigations.However, last week, there were reports of indications that the embattled lecturer, who was ordained pastor last year, was so devastated by the scandal that he was contemplating suicide.
Now, a close friend of his who spoke with Vanguard anonymously, however, said nothing like that happened. It was gathered that Igbeneghu was being protected by friends and family members so he would not harm himself.
The friend, a Christian, who said he had cause to rejoice with him for rededicating his life to Christ a few months ago, however, confirmed that he was being surrounded by friends and family members, noting that it’s unfortunate he was involved in such shameful act.
According to him, he probably was involved in this immoral act before he finally surrendered his life to God’s pruning and direction. The friend said:
“I have a feeling that he had that weakness long ago. And I have had cause to rejoice with him when he claimed that he had rededicated his life.
“It is not unlikely that the amorous acts from his end were the days he was battling with the flesh. You will note that the investigation was over a period of nine months and he most likely was still struggling with the flesh all these while.”
Meanwhile, the embattled lecturer has continued to claim that he is innocent after taking to Facebook to describe the report as a “hoax” and the “work of devil.” The Associate Professor also said he dissociates himself from the video.
According to Punch, in what appears to be a newly-opened Facebook page whose first post was made on October 7 after the BBC video had been released, the lecturer posted the photographs of him and his wife, telling her how much he loves her, and how it is impossible for the BBC video to separate them.
The suspended university teacher said he was set up by the BBC, and that he had opened a conversation with his lawyer.On the first date of the Facebook page debut, Igbeneghu posted eight photographs, screenshots and memes.
He didn’t make new posts until October 10, when he added five posts, mainly to diss the BBC video. He returned on Saturday to make two posts, mainly to thank those who have been calling and praying for him.
Below are some of the screenshots of his Facebook posts starting from Monday, October 7 till Saturday morning:
Reacting to the development which has provoked the Nigerian Senate to initiate a law to deal with randy lecturers, CAN’s Director of Legal and Public Affairs, Evangelist Kwamkur Samuel Vondip, described the act as despicable, sad. Evangelist Vondip said:
“We hear that investigation into the matter is ongoing according to a statement by his church and based on that CAN may not be in a position to say anything now. As a legal practitioner, I will not also rush into any conclusion now, but there is need to stress that anybody being anointed to such a high office must endeavour to make himself or herself above board as Apostle Paul warned in his second letter to Timothy.
I think when any man is being anointed such persons must be properly examined to avoid such embarrassment to the Body of Christ. After the investigation if he found guilty, I expect that he should repent and take some time off to make peace with himself and reconcile with God.”
He stressed that CAN as a body does not have any special punishment for persons who break his oath of office.
“CAN cannot decree any punishment for such persons but on a personal note, there is no way one can say here that if found culpable he would not escape prosecution because the state is involved and the rights of some impressionable Nigerians are at stake too.”