The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, seems to have been consumed by the allegations of sexual harassment leveled against him by a senior university official, Engr. Folasade Adebayo.
Fasina has immediately on 10-month leave which was confirmed in an official statement released on Monday by the University Registrar and Secretary to the Governing Council, Mufutau A. Ibrahim.
According to the statement, the University’s Governing Council convened its 7th Emergency Meeting virtually on Monday, 14th April 2025. During the meeting, the Council approved Prof. Fasina’s request to proceed on his accumulated Annual and Research Leave. He will be on leave for six months—totaling 126 working days out of his entitlement of 228 days—effective immediately.
In his absence, Professor Olubunmi S. Shittu, the current Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) and the most senior among the Deputy Vice-Chancellors, has been appointed as Acting Vice-Chancellor for the next six months.
This decision follows mounting pressure from the Federal Ministry of Education over the Council’s initial handling of the matter. Reports indicate that the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, expressed deep dissatisfaction after the Council allegedly dismissed the complaint and instructed the complainant to issue an apology to the Vice-Chancellor.
A source close to the Ministry revealed that the Minister personally called the Governing Council Chairman, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), to express his displeasure, prompting the emergency meeting that led to Fasina’s removal.
Although officially granted leave, sources suggest the Vice-Chancellor requested the leave as an alternative to a direct suspension, which had been considered by the Council.
It’s unprecedented for a VC in Nigerian university to proceed on such leave as they always stay till the end of their tenure.
In the interim, Professor Shittu, a Professor of Soil Science, will assume leadership of the university while the matter continues to unfold.
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