University of St Andrews Wins £100k Court Case Against Former Employee

The University of St Andrews has won its £100,000 case against former employee Dr Akali Omeni. The case focused on Dr Omeni’s four complaints: unfair constructive dismissal, direct race discrimination, harassment related to race, and discriminatory constructive dismissal.

Dr Akali Omeni is a counter-terrorism expert and was a lecturer in the School of International Relations until his resignation in March 2024. Throughout the six-day employee tribunal held at Dundee Tribunal Hearing Centre in November, Dr Omeni represented himself, seeking £58,700 due to “injury to his feelings,” £16,277 for twenty-one weeks of lost pay, and pension contributions. Tribunal judge Jennifer McCluskey oversaw the case and stated, “We were satisfied that no racial motivation, conscious or unconscious could be inferred.”

Some of the central issues raised were Dr Omeni’s claims that he was being “tone policed”, that his mental health was not taken seriously, and that the University did not reduce his workload to be the same as his white colleagues. One of the complaints was that Dr Omeni had to teach for two semesters in his first year of teaching, instead of just one, like fellow staff members. University lawyer Mandy Armstrong drew attention to the fact that the School of International Relations was undergoing a period of change at the time of Dr Omeni’s complaints, stating, “This is something that was being applied across the whole school. You were not being singled out.”

Ultimately, Dr Omeni’s complaints were dismissed at the end of the hearing with the conclusion that his arguments were not well-founded. In an article published by The Courier, a University spokesperson gave the following statement:

“We welcome the outcome of the Employment Tribunal rejecting Dr Omeni’s claims against the University of discriminatory and unfair constructive dismissal, direct racial discrimination and harassment related to race.

“St Andrews is committed to advancing equality and addressing all forms of discrimination and we are pleased that the Tribunal found no case to answer.

“The case has been deeply distressing for our staff who were on the receiving end of these serious allegations, who have been fully vindicated by the verdict. We also recognise the case has been difficult and challenging for Dr Omeni, and we wish him well in his future career.”

According to The Courier, Dr Omeni will not be appealing the verdict. However, he stated, “As a black man, I have been told by an all-white tribunal, who supported all-white witnesses, what racism is not.”

Image by University of St Andrews