University of St Andrews wins £100k race discrimination case put forward by former employee

The University of St Andrews has won a race discrimination case put forward by a former employee.

Akali Omeni, a counter-terrorism specialist, said he was harassed, discriminated against, and dismissed from his role at the university’s School of International Relations due to his race.

However, at a tribunal in Dundee, the complaints were dismissed, with St Andrews winning the £100,000 case.

According to The Courier, the six-day hearing found that Mr Omeni’s arguments were not well-founded.

The discrimination case came after Mr Omeni resigned from the university in March 2024, following a number of issues.

One of the issues, he said, was that he was “tone-policed” after being told to consider his tone after sending an email to a white, female staff member.

However, he said this was an example of racial micro-aggression.

The four complaints were unfair constructive dismissal, direct race discrimination, harassment related to race, and discriminatory constructive dismissal.

In the case, he sought £58,700 due to “injury to his feelings”, as well as lodging a claim to £16,227 for 21 weeks of lost pay, as well as pension contributions.

Despite this, St Andrews won the case, saying it had been “deeply distressing” for the staff involved.

Presiding over the tribunal, judge Jennifer McLuskey said: “We were satisfied that no racial motivation, conscious or unconscious, could be inferred.

“The deputy head of school used the word ‘tone’ to respond to the language of the claimant, which was objectively unprofessional.”

However, Mr Omeni told The Courier that he won’t be appealing the decision, saying: “As a black man, I have been told by an all-white tribunal, who supported all-white witnesses, what racism is not.”

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Talking about the findings, a University of St Andrews spokesperson said: “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 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.”

Featured image via Amazon