The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Western Zone, has condemned the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) governing council for exonerating the Vice-Chancellor, Abayomi Fasina, of sexual harassment allegations brought against him by a university staff member, Folasade Adebayo.
In a strongly worded statement signed by SSANU National Vice President and Western Zone Chairman, Abdussobur Salaam, the union rejected the council’s decision, describing it as a grave injustice and a dangerous precedent for the Nigerian university system.
“The Western Zone of SSANU is not shocked and had indeed anticipated the outcome of the meeting of the Governing Council of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, held on Tuesday, 8 April 2025,” the statement read. “It is, however, sad to note that the decisions of the governing council as conveyed in the press release has laid a bad precedent and a new low for the Nigerian University system with the grasp at straws in the desperate attempt to protect the villain while further victimising the victim. Yet, what did we expect? Can a cockroach be innocent in a gathering of fowls?”
The union alleged that the investigation process had been compromised and called for the immediate dissolution of the university council for “lacking in integrity.” It also demanded the suspension of Professor Fasina and the establishment of an independent panel to investigate what it called “a gross miscarriage of justice.”
The controversy began after Mrs. Adebayo, a former Director of Works at FUOYE, accused the Vice-Chancellor of persistent sexual advances, which she claimed began in 2023. She alleged that after repeatedly turning him down, she was subjected to victimisation, including demotion and baseless queries. Supporting her claims, Adebayo provided an audio recording in which a man alleged to be the VC was heard saying, “Let me tell you, I’m dying inside for you,” mixing Yoruba and English in an emotional plea.
“Just make me happy, Sade (Mrs Adebayo). Listen, I beg you in the name of God, make me happy, I will make you happy. I won’t say more than that. And things will work out fine,” the voice said in the recording obtained by *PREMIUM TIMES*. When she objected, the man dismissed her concerns: “You’re only speaking grammar… Someone said they like you and you’re saying (something else).”
However, following its review of an investigative committee’s report, the FUOYE council declared Fasina not guilty of the allegations and ordered Adebayo to apologise within seven days. The council also demanded an apology from SSANU for its role in pushing for an investigation. Furthermore, two SSANU-FUOYE executives—Chairman Benjamin Faleye and Secretary Ayomikun Aluko—were reprimanded for “misconduct” and ordered to forfeit half of their salaries for the duration of their prior suspensions, which were subsequently lifted.
The council condemned Mrs. Adebayo for recording a private conversation without consent, calling the act unethical. SSANU responded sharply, criticising the council for focusing on the method of evidence collection instead of its content. “We are taken aback that rather than focus on the contents of the recordings, the governing council attempted to gaslight the public by querying why the recordings were made and concluding it was for the purpose of blackmail,” the union said.
SSANU also dismissed the council’s claim that the Nigerian Police Force investigated the allegations, stating that the referenced probe by the anti-fraud unit was unrelated to the sexual harassment claims. “To further claim that Folashade Adebayo never made any complaint of sexual harassment against Abayomi Fasina is a barefaced and brazen lie,” it declared.
The union rejected the disciplinary actions taken against Mrs. Adebayo and the two FUOYE branch leaders, describing them as targeted attacks on whistle-blowers. “The motive of demanding for letters of apology within a seven-day frame is not lost on us, as the intent is to automatically dismiss them from service if this is not done, and knowing quite well that as unionists, they would not succumb to apologising for an offence not committed,” SSANU said.
As tensions escalate, the call for an independent investigation may test the university’s accountability structures and the broader fight against harassment and abuse of power in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
