A lecturer at Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Port Harcourt, Solomon Tamunotonye, has raised concerns about the institution’s management withholding his salary for 20 months.
The Polytechnic initially suspended Tamunotonye for three months due to allegations of harassment and exploitation of a 200-level female student, Blessing Audu.
Subsequently, the case was referred to a committee for investigation.
However, Tamunotonye expressed frustration that the management, months later, asked him to return to work and submit a written apology without disclosing the committee’s findings.
He refused to write an apology, insisting that the allegations were false, which led to the suspension of his salary.
He maintained that he didn’t see the need for an apology letter, as the polytechnic’s regulations prescribe dismissal for lecturers involved in sexual harassment, not a written apology.
Tamunotonye also alleged that on December 16, 2022, he was attacked by three polytechnic employees who attempted to destroy evidence related to his case.
The matter has since gone to court, and Tamunotonye is seeking support from Nigerians, the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and civil society groups, as he has resorted to doing menial jobs to sustain himself.
The Registrar of the Polytechnic, Chris Woke, declined to comment, citing the ongoing legal proceedings.
