Abuja suspends FUOYE VC over alleged sexual harassment after initial exoneration by varsity Governing Council
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
The suspension followed the reported intervention of Education Minister Tunji Alausa who expressed strong dissatisfaction with the initial recommendation of FUOYE Governing Council Committee exonerating Fasina.
The committee had ignored Adebayo’s allegation and instead advised her to apologise to Fasina – similar to the current situation between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio – source.
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Abayomi Fasina, a professor and Vice Chancellor of Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), has been suspended with immediate effect over allegation of sexual harassment levelled against him by a senior female official, Folasade Adebayo, an engineer.
This followed the reported intervention of Education Minister Tunji Alausa who expressed strong dissatisfaction with the initial recommendation of FUOYE Governing Council Committee exonerating Fasina.
Sahara Reporters quoted sources as disclosing that the committee had ignored Adebayo’s allegation and instead advised her to apologise to Fasina – similar to the current situation between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
“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.”
Ndoma-Egba then convened an emergency virtual meeting of the Governing Council at 2pm on Monday during which the Council resolved to remove Fasina from office.
However, Fasina pleaded with the Council to allow him 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.”
FUOYE Registrar and Council Secretary Mufutau Ibrahim confirmed the development in a statement.
He recounted that “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 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.”
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