In a decisive move, the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has suspended its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, following serious sexual harassment allegations.
Notably, Engr. Folasade Adebayo, a senior female official, accused him of misconduct, prompting immediate action.
Consequently, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, intervened, expressing dissatisfaction with the university’s initial handling of the case.
Previously, the Governing Council Committee had cleared Prof. Fasina and even demanded an apology from Engr. Adebayo, effectively dismissing her claims.
However, Dr. Alausa strongly opposed this decision, deeming it unjust.
Subsequently, he escalated his concerns to the Governing Council Chairman, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), urging a review of the matter.
In response, Senator Ndoma-Egba convened an emergency virtual meeting on Monday, April 14, 2025.
During the session, the council resolved to remove Prof. Fasina from office but framed it as a leave of absence rather than a suspension.
Reportedly, Prof. Fasina opted to utilize his accrued leave, which was granted immediately since his tenure was ending in August.
Meanwhile, Mufutau A. Ibrahim, the university’s Registrar, confirmed the decision in an official statement.
He clarified that the council approved Prof. Fasina’s request for a six-month leave, covering 126 working days out of his total 228-day entitlement.
Additionally, the council appointed Professor Samuel Olubunmi Shittu, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), as Acting Vice-Chancellor.
Furthermore, the statement emphasized that Prof. Shittu, the most senior deputy, would lead the university for six months starting April 14, 2025.
This transition marks a pivotal moment for FUOYE as it addresses the allegations and restores institutional integrity.
Ultimately, the case underscores the importance of accountability in academic leadership.
The university now faces heightened scrutiny as stakeholders await further developments.
Undoubtedly, this incident will influence future policies on sexual harassment and governance in Nigerian universities.
For now, the focus remains on ensuring justice while maintaining stability within the institution.
