The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) in Ekiti State, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, has been suspended according to a report by SaharaReporters
The suspension comes following allegations of sexual harassment brought against him by a senior female university official, Engr. Folasade Adebayo.
The suspension, which takes effect immediately, followed the intervention of the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who reportedly expressed strong dissatisfaction with the initial recommendation of the university’s Governing Council Committee exonerating Prof. Fasina.
According to Sahara Reporters, sources disclosed that the committee had advised that Engr. Adebayo apologise to the Vice-Chancellor, allegedly ignoring her claims of sexual misconduct.
“The minister was very angry with the decision of the council,” a source familiar with the matter said. “He was unhappy that the council tried to sweep the sexual harassment complaint under the carpet and rather told the complainant to apologise. He called the Chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), to register his displeasure.”
Prompted by the minister’s concern, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba convened an emergency virtual meeting of the university’s Governing Council at 2:00 PM on Monday, April 14. During the meeting, the Council resolved to remove Prof. Fasina from office, albeit under the guise of accumulated leave rather than outright suspension.
According to sources, Prof. Fasina pleaded with the Council to allow him to proceed on his accrued annual and research leave instead of facing direct suspension.
“You know, as a Vice-Chancellor, if you wish to end your tenure early, especially within six months to the end of your term, you are permitted to proceed on your accumulated leave,” the source explained. “Although Fasina’s tenure is due to end in August, the Council has now asked him to proceed on that leave effective immediately.”
Confirming the development, the university’s Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Mufutau A. Ibrahim, issued a press statement on Monday stating, “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, Monday, 14th April, 2025.”
In the interim, the Council has appointed Professor Samuel Olubunmi Shittu, a Professor of Soil Science and the current Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university 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 (3) Deputy Vice-Chancellors, as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University for a period of six (6) months with effect from today, Monday, 14th April, 2025,” the statement read.
In late 2024, the VC was accused of sexual harassment and victimisation by Folashade Adebayo, a female senior lecturer.
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) also accused Fasina of inappropriate conduct towards the lecturer.
They claimed that Fasnina had made advances at the senior lecturer, then proceeded to remove her from office after she refused.
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These allegations prompted calls for a probe into the university’s financial and administrative operations during Fasina’s tenure.
The university council would set up a committee to investigate the matter, later clearing the VC of the allegations.
