Amidst the controversy surrounding the alleged sexual harassment case against him, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, FUOYE, Professor Abayomi Sunday, has vacated his position.
This is as the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Professor Olubunmi Shiitu, has been appointed as new vice chancellor, in acting capacity.
The announcement of the exit of the vice-chancellor was announced on Monday in a statement by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Foluso Ogunmodede.
According to the spokesman, the appointment of a new vice-chancellor followed “a request by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina to proceed on his accumulated annual and research leave.”
The request was said to have been granted by the Governing Council of the university at an emergency meeting held on Monday.
The statement by the school authority reads: “The Governing Council of Federal University Oye Ekiti at its 7th emergency meeting held online on Monday 14 April, 2025 considered the request of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina to proceed on his accumulated Annual and Research Leave and approved six months being 126 working days out of his total entitlements of 228 days with effect from today, Monday 14th April, 2025.
“In addition, the Governing Council appointed Professor Olubunmi 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 months with effect from today Monday 14th April, 2025.”
FUOYE commenced the probe of Fasina over alleged sexual harassment on January 25, 2025.
The decision to carry out the probe was taken by the governing council of the university.
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According to the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Mufutau A. Ibrahim, in a press statement, the decision to probe followed a number of published audio tapes alleging sexual harassment of a deputy director of works in the university, Engr. (Mrs) Folashade Adebayo, by the Vice-Chancellor.
Against the backdrop of the negative effect of the negative report on the university, the council said it was necessary to carry out a probe.
To that effect, a nine member committee was set up and given three weeks to get to the root of the matter and report to the council.
The committee was directed to investigate the source of the viral audios recording alleging the immoral moves by the Vice-Chancellor and the purchase of the positions of the Bursar and Registrar and investigate the motive behind the recording and how the recording gained currency in the social media.
The committee was also to investigate the allegations of Engr. Adebayo, particularly the allegation of immoral advances against the Vice-Chancellor as well as review all previous actions and efforts by the police, the immediate-past chairman of Council and others at unravelling the allegations made by Adebayo against the Vice-Chancellor.
On April 8, 2025, the FUOYE’s Governing Council announced that Fasina had been given a clean bill of health at the end of the investigation carried out over the sexual harassment case.
The council described the allegation against the Vice-Chancellor as lacking merit.
The council was said to have come hard on Engr. Adebayo for dragging the university’s name into disrepute with the allegation, compelling her to tender an unreserved apology to the Council within seven days.
The spokesman of the university quoted the council as having said that “There was no case of sexual harassment thus confirming the earlier investigation by the Nigeria Police Force during which investigation Engr. Adebayo had made a statement that she was not sexually harassed.
“All documents relied on in the investigation by the committee were attached to the report (NPF report, audio, their transcripts, correspondences by the Vice-Chancellor and Engr. Adebayo, minutes of management meetings etc).
“Council condemned the recording of the Vice-Chancellor without his knowledge and consent. All members of council agreed that the recordings were tools for blackmail to confirm Engr. Adebayo as substantive director of works which the Vice-Chancellor has no authority to do.
“Council noted that Engr. Folashade Adebayo never made any complaint of sexual harassment against the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina however.
“Council directed that Engr. Adebayo be warned for bringing the name of the University into disrepute.
“She is also directed to write a letter of apology to the Council within seven days.”
Despite the verdict announced by the council, the controversy has refused to abate as the Coalition of Public Interests Lawyers and Advocates, COPA, called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, to investigate the alleged sexual harassment case.
The coalition, in a statement by the convener, an Abuja-based legal practitioner, Mr. Pelumi Olajengbesi, made the call against the backdrop of the declaration by the governing council of FUOYE that Fasina was not guilty of the allegation of sexual harassment against him by a Deputy Director, Works, Mrs Folashade Adebayo.
The coalition said the declaration by the council was incredulous in view of the evidence made available by Adebayo over the allegation.
