By OLA AJAYI

IBADAN—FOLLOWING the arrest of some of the striking workers of the Institute of Agriculture, Research and Training, IAR & T, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, the workers have called for the removal of the director of the institute, Prof. Benjamin Ogunbodede.

The call was made by the National Vice-President, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, IAR & T branch, Mr. Alfred Jimoh, weekend.

Fifteen members of the union were arrested over the industrial unrest that has paralysed activities in the institute for the past 10 months.

Meanwhile, the union members, who were arraigned in court, were granted N50,000.00 bail with a surety each.

Justifying the call for the removal of the director, Jimoh accused him of abuse of office, fraudulent diversion and misappropriation of funds.

He said: “The workers no longer have confidence in the leadership of Prof. Benjamin Ogunbodede.”

However,  Ogunbodede denied all the allegations, saying “I will not wait a minute longer at the institute if found guilty of any offence or wrong doing in office.”

He added that the allegations of misappropriation of funds were spurious and unfounded.

Contrary to the claims of the aggrieved workers, the panel that was set up by the management of the institute did not find him guilty.

Jimoh said: “I wholeheartedly support the call of the workers of the institute for Ogunbodede’s removal as the director, due to loss of confidence in his administration.

“We are at the institute to have a meeting with the members and to brief them about development at the court on Thursday.”

“The struggle has lasted over 10 months. We are unanimous in the call for his removal even if he refunds the money.”