The invitation was in connection with a news report published on Monday by an online news platform.

The story revealed that a certificate racketeering syndicate had genuine Lagos State University certificates that anyone interested could purchase for between N2m and N3m, depending on the technicality of the course involved.

In a statement made available by Media Assistant to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Eromosele Ebhomele, the Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, noted that the source of the story could be suspicious and not trustworthy, saying, “because of its tendency to blackmail, agreed that the concerned officials of the institution be invited so that facts about the allegation could be unearthed for the sake of the reputation of the school.”

Obasa, an alumnus of the institution, said, “I agree that the committee should invite those to be invited to establish facts about the allegation, but we must not because of that destroy our institution’s reputation.”

However, the Speaker said should anyone be found wanting, they would be sanctioned.

The statement revealed that Mr Owolabi Ajani, who moved the motion under ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance,’ told his colleagues that there was a need to invite the commissioner, the VC and others for the House to unravel the facts behind the allegation.

Ajani noted that LASU had maintained a high level of integrity over the years, saying that this must be sustained.

“While Honourable Sa’ad Olumoh urged that the investigation should involve people in the Information and Communication Technology unit of the institution, Honourable Desmond Elliot and his colleague, Ladi Ajomale, who said they attended LASU, supported that the allegation be investigated,” the statement added.

Present during the meeting were the Divisional Police Officers of Trade Fair division, Igando division, Seme division, Isashi division, Ilemba Hausa division, Iba division, Satellite division, Ojo division, Onireke division, Ijanikin division, Okokomaiko division, Badagry division, FESTAC division, and Morogbo division, and also the Head, DSS, Ojo.

According to a statement issued by the university on Tuesday, some of the officials were present themselves while others were represented at the first-of-its-kind parley.

The statement read in part: “The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, while giving her opening speech at the Council Chambers, Babatunde Raji Fashola Senate Building, main campus, Ojo, commended the security officers for taking time to be at the meeting as well as the great job done over time in keeping the community safe.”

Bello was quoted as saying, “The meeting of today was informed by a common purpose which is the safety of lives and properties of staff and students of the Lagos State University and by extension, residents of the environment. We have a duty of care to secure staff and students as long as they are within our span of control.”

The meeting deliberated on areas of security concern, such as cultism, kidnapping, rape, and profiling of students, among others.

The stakeholders then agreed on the need for better civility, education and orientation, and improved communication towards better security.