FUOYE Vice-Chancellor suspended over sexual harassment allegations

The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, has been suspended from office following serious allegations of sexual harassment leveled against him by a senior university official, Engineer Folasade Adebayo.

The suspension, which took immediate effect, was initiated after Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, intervened in the case. According to sources, Dr. Alausa expressed strong dissatisfaction with the university’s Governing Council Committee, which had earlier exonerated Prof. Fasina and controversially recommended that Adebayo issue an apology to him.

According to Sahara Reporters, insiders claim the panel’s report appeared to ignore serious allegations of sexual misconduct made by Engr. Adebayo, prompting the Minister’s decisive response to uphold integrity and accountability in the university system.

“The minister was furious with the Council’s decision,” a source familiar with the matter disclosed. “He believed the council attempted to sweep the sexual harassment allegations under the rug and instead directed the complainant to apologise. He made his displeasure known in a call to the Chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN).”

In response to the minister’s concerns, Senator Ndoma-Egba convened an emergency virtual meeting of the Governing Council on Monday, April 14, 2025, at 2:00 PM. During the session, the Council resolved to remove Prof. Fasina from office under the guise of allowing him to proceed on accumulated leave, rather than issuing a formal suspension.

Sources say the embattled Vice-Chancellor pleaded with the Council to allow him to proceed on his accrued annual and research leave instead of facing direct disciplinary action. Fasina’s tenure is expected to end in August 2025.

“As a Vice-Chancellor, if you are within six months of completing your tenure, you may opt to go on your accumulated leave,” one insider noted. “The Council has now activated that option.”

Confirming the development, the university’s Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Mufutau A. Ibrahim, issued a press statement saying:

“The Governing Council of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), at its 7th Emergency Meeting held online on Monday, 14th April 2025, considered the request of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, to proceed on his accumulated Annual and Research Leave, and approved six (6) months—being 126 working days—out of his total entitlements of 228 days, with effect from today.”

In the interim, the Council has appointed Professor Samuel Olubunmi Shittu, a Professor of Soil Science and the current Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), as Acting Vice-Chancellor for the next six months.

“In addition, the Governing Council appointed Prof. Olubunmi S. Shittu, the incumbent Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, who is also the most senior of the three Deputy Vice-Chancellors, as Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University for a period of six (6) months with effect from today, Monday, 14th April, 2025,” the statement concluded.