Babcock Expels Student Over Ritual Soap, Drug Claims

Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, has expelled a student, Oladipupo Siwajuola, for what it described as a “gross violation” of school rules, including involvement in fetish practices, drug peddling, impersonation, and dishonesty.

Siwajuola’s case drew public attention in early May after his mother alleged on social media that the university failed in its duty of care following her son’s disappearance.

In a statement released Wednesday and signed by Dr. Joshua Suleiman, the university’s Director of Marketing and Communication, Babcock clarified that Siwajuola deliberately left campus without authorization on April 28, 2025, disguising himself in a hoodie and exiting through the teaching hospital gate.

“His disappearance was not accidental or due to any negligence,” the statement said. “It was a willful act tied to repeated misconducts that breached Babcock University’s Student Handbook.”

Siwajuola was reportedly returned to campus by his father on May 15 and later invited for questioning by the Security Services Department.

According to the university, the student voluntarily confessed to several offences, including buying black soap from a traditional herbalist for N100,000. Contrary to his mother’s claim that the soap was for a skin condition, Siwajuola admitted it was intended for ritual use in a ‘Yahoo Yahoo Plus’ scheme—a slang term for internet fraud involving fetish practices.

He also confessed to drug peddling, borrowing N500,000 from an online loan app for gambling, and impersonating another student to open a bank account. Additionally, he sold his personal phone without approval and falsely claimed his father had consented.

Babcock disputed the mother’s public claim that Siwajuola was found by former classmates, stating that the parent of a friend he was staying with in Lagos alerted his family after noticing online discussions about his disappearance.

The university said its investigation found Siwajuola guilty of unauthorised campus exit, possession of fetish materials, drug offences, impersonation, dishonesty, and unauthorised sale of property. He has been dismissed with immediate effect.

“While we acknowledge the emotional impact on the family, our priority is the safety and moral uprightness of all students under our care,” Suleiman stated.

The university also criticised the student’s mother for making what it called “sensational and unfounded” accusations against the school online. It said, however, that in light of the father’s cooperative attitude, no legal action will be taken for libel at this time.