BREAKING: Federal University Oye-Ekiti Governing Council Constitutes 9-Member Committee To Probe Vice-Chancellor Fasina Over Sexual Harassment Allegations

The Governing Council of Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has constituted a nine-member committee to investigate allegations of sexual harassment levelled against the institution's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina.

This decision follows a report by SaharaReporters detailing accusations made by a female staff member, Mrs. Folasade Adebayo, who alleged immoral advances by the Vice-Chancellor.

In a statement released on Friday by the Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Mufutau A. Ibrahim, the committee was directed to conduct a comprehensive investigation and uncover the truth behind the allegations within three weeks.

He said the committee is expected to get to the root of the matter and present its findings to the Council within the stipulated time," the statement read.

The statement further read, "The Governing Council at its emergency meeting held on Friday, 24th January, 2025 noted that the online outfits, the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) and Sahara Reporters published a series of audio tapes alleging that the Vice-Chancellor sexually harassed Engr. Mrs Folashade Adebayo, a Deputy Director, of Works in the University.

"Because the Vice-Chancellor was accused, Council excused him from the meeting.”

Ibrahim explained that the Governing Council extensively discussed the issues and observed that the Federal University Oye-Ekiti has been in the news lately for the wrong reasons and that the negative stories are obscuring the remarkable achievements of the University.

"The Council consequently set up a nine-member committee to investigate the allegations thoroughly and get to the root of the matter, within three weeks with the following terms of Reference:

The committee is mandated 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;

"To investigate the motive behind the recording; and to investigate how the recording gained currency in the social media;

"To investigate the allegations of Mrs. Folasade Adebayo, particularly the allegation of immoral advances against the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi S. Fasina;

"To review all previous actions/efforts by the police, the immediate past chairman of Council and others at unravelling the allegations made by Engr. Folasade Adebayo against the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi S. Fasina; and

“To investigate any other matter relating to the allegations.”

He noted that the Council hopes to consider the report of the committee at its next meeting scheduled for the third week of February, 2025.

"In the meantime, the Council wishes to encourage members of the University community and the general public to remain calm and focused as the Council is determined to do justice and there will be no sacred cows," Ibrahim added.

Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that when SaharaReporters contacted the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of FUOYE, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, he denied the allegations.

He stated that the Governing Council would establish a committee to review the matter.

He said, "Well, the one of suspending anybody is premature. It's totally premature because that matter had been on before I came here, and my predecessor tried to resolve it in a peaceful way - to see the both parties to talk about it.

“And, Engineer Adebayo didn't appear to be satisfied because she still wrote another petition. And those audios have gained a wider circulation, and they are now different versions.

"So we took a decision that the council should set up a committee. So council is having an emergency meeting this morning to discuss a matter. So we are going to be setting up a committee that will hear from both Mrs Adebayo and from the vice chancellor.

"And then we'll look at all previous efforts, including police investigations of the matter because the police had investigated this matter, and there is a police report. Then also, the council will set up a committee today. We have an emergency meeting, council meeting today, and, we'll await the outcome of the committee.”

SaharaReporters asked Ndoma-Egba about allegations that the council might suspend Engineer Adebayo and whether he had taken sides on the matter.

He replied, saying, "I said the council is setting up a committee today.

"So if I had taken sides, I would have announced my decision, which would have been improper because I'm Pro Chancellor. But there is a council, and every decision must be taken by the council, not the Pro Chancellor. And that is why it became necessary for us to summon an emergency council meeting to discuss it.”

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He continued, "And about what they said I said, which you quoted is not true. What they said I said at the Oba's palace is totally untrue. There are recordings of my speech.

"I think somebody is just being mischievous. What I said was that I was appointed as Pro Chancellor of the University on November 20. The union went to the media on November 25. They didn't even give me an opportunity to wade into the matter.

"And after, they have written petitions directly to the minister. There are procedures; the grievance management procedures in every institution.

"And these are all issues that they will look at. Yesterday, I met with the unions. All the unions apart from ASUU. So what was quoted is untrue, except they play the recording of my speech, that is totally out of it. Nothing close to what I said.

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"Please, I have just come as Pro-Chancellor. Federal University Oye-Ekiti was set up with 12 others in 2011. I was in Lokoja before I was swapped to Ekiti. Today, Oye-Ekiti is the 4th most subscribed university in the country. That is not our assessment.

"That is the assessment of JAMB, looking at the number of applicants and all of that. Today, our student population is about almost 55,000 in 14 years. Today, we are ranked number 15 in 14 years. These are remarkable achievements that are not in the news. We are in the news now for inane reasons.”

"You know? So please also have that background. We should, as we promote these negative stories, we should also talk about the remarkable achievements of the university within a very short time," Ndoma-Egba added.