By Bukola Kayode
The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, has been suspended by the university’s Governing Council owing to allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by a senior staff of the university, Engr. Folasade Adebayo.
According to Sahara Reporters, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, intervened after the initial recommendations of the Governing Council’s Committee, which allegedly ignored the sexual harassment allegations and instead recommended that Adebayo apologise to the Vice-Chancellor.
“The minister was very angry with the decision of the council,” the newspaper quoted its source as saying.
“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”, the source was further quoted as saying.
According to SR, following the minister’s intervention, Senator Ndoma-Egba convened an emergency online meeting of the Governing Council at 2:00 PM on Monday, during which the Council resolved to suspend Prof. Fasina.
The report further showed that Fasina pleaded with the Council to allow him to proceed on his accumulated leave instead of a direct suspension. Eventually, the Council granted his request for a six-month accrued leave.
“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”, the source was also quoted as saying.
In the interim, the Governing Council has appointed Prof. Samuel Olubunmi Shittu, a Professor of Soil Science and the incumbent Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), as Acting Vice-Chancellor for six months.
This was confirmed in a press statement issued by the Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Mufutau A. Ibrahim, and obtained by SaharaReporters.
The statement read: “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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