One of the six shortlisted candidates for the position of vice-chancellor for the University of Ilorin slated for interview today, Prof. Musibau Akanji, might turn down his invitation for the exercise according to National Mirror sources yesterday.

Prof. Akanji was reported to have protested the scoring scheme that produced him for the interview describing it as ‘arbitrary.’

The tenure of the current Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede expires this October.

Prof. Akanji allegedly accused University of Ilorin council members, as well as the selection board members of deploying the scoring method to promote a desired candidate.

Akanji, who is a Biochemistry teacher was said to have written a protest letter to the acting pro-chancellor and acting chairman of the council, claiming that; "with the antecedents of your board, I have no other alternative than to come to the painful conclusion that I cannot be guaranteed justice and fairness before your selection board. I, therefore, may not attend the interview."

His words: "Kindly recollect that your selection board at its meeting of 10th and 11th July, 2012 drew up scoring criteria to shortlist the 24 candidates whose applications came before your board.

"At the end of the said meeting, you shortlisted five applicants to be interviewed, an exercise that was fixed for Monday, 23rd July, 2012.

"I protested the injustice inherent in your decision of the 10th and 11th July, 2012 meeting as it affects me, in a letter dated 16th July, 2012 citing the bias displayed in considering my application and your subsequent dropping of my name from the list of those to be interviewed.

"You took my protest on Tuesday 17th July, 2012 and because of the unassailable evidence I provided, you saw the defect and or weakness of your earlier decision. You consequently invited me for interview via a letter reference number UIL/ROS/S.31 and dated 17th July, 2012 to attend the interview scheduled for Monday 23rd July, 2012.

"Looking at the list of materials we are to bring to the interview and the time available for me, I do not see how it will be feasible. For example, I am to bring a medical certificate of fitness from a recognised public hospital. You know too well sir that unless I just want to collect a medical certificate (which I will not), the process of going through medical test that will qualify me for a certificate cannot be completed in three working days left for me before the interview. Also recall that other shortlisted candidates were contacted several days before me," he had complained.

The letter allegedly continued: "In the spirit and letters of the Freedom of Information Act, I demand that your scoring criteria, the curriculum vitae and the scores of the candidates be made public before the date of interview.

"I wish to remind you that if you railroad a candidate that does not emerge by verifiable and justifiable criteria, you will alienate the majority of the workforce of the university from contributing to the continued growth of our institution.