The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, has been suspended by the university’s Governing Council following serious allegations of sexual harassment brought against him by a senior official of the institution, Engr. Folasade Adebayo.
According to a report by SaharaReporters, the suspension came after the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, intervened in the matter, expressing deep dissatisfaction with the Council’s initial recommendations which reportedly ignored the substance of the harassment allegations and instead advised the complainant to apologise to the Vice-Chancellor.
A source disclosed: “The minister was very angry with the decision of the council. 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.”
In response to the minister’s strong opposition, Senator Ndoma-Egba swiftly convened an emergency online meeting of the Governing Council at 2:00 PM on Monday, April 14, 2025. During this meeting, the Council resolved to suspend Prof. Fasina.
However, sources within the meeting revealed that Prof. Fasina pleaded with the Council to allow him to proceed on his accumulated leave instead of facing a formal suspension. The Council eventually granted this request, approving six months of 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.”
This decision was later confirmed through an official press statement issued by the university’s Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Mufutau A. Ibrahim. 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.”
The statement further announced that Prof. Samuel Olubunmi Shittu, a Professor of Soil Science and the incumbent Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), has been appointed as Acting Vice-Chancellor.
“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.”
The suspension of Prof. Fasina has sparked strong reactions within Nigeria’s academic community, with many calling for a transparent and thorough investigation into the allegations. Stakeholders and rights groups have also urged the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure justice is served and to reinforce institutional safeguards to protect whistleblowers and victims of harassment in Nigerian universities.
