FG panel sits as FUOYE VC battles sexual harassment accusation

- NANS accuses VC Fasina of forced romance with married female dep.director, threatens shutdown
- It’s blatant lie, full of false narratives, Fasina’s lawyers reply
By Victor Akinkuolie, Ekiti
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The Federal Government has sent a visitation panel to the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) to investigate allegation of sexual harassment and extortion levelled against the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Abayomi Fasina.
The panel was said to have arrived the institution some days ago.
This followed a threat by the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, to shut down the institution over the sexual harassment allegation.
Fasina was alleged to have been making inappropriate and emotional advances at a female staff member, Engr. Folasade Adebayo, a married deputy director in the university’s Directorate of Works and Service.
But the law firm of Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa and Co, lawyers to Fasina, described the allegation against the VC as baseless, emphasising the need to address the unsubstantiated accusations and provide accurate information.
The law firm thus refuted the claims, describing them as false narratives.
But a statement by NANS Senate President, Com. Akinteye Babatunde, threatened that if the Governing Council of the institution failed to suspend the VC before the upcoming convocation of the university, NANS would take decisive and lawful action by mobilising students nationwide to shut down FUOYE on convocation day to demand accountability.
According to him, the alleged conduct was reprehensible and violated ethical standards expected of someone occupying such a high position of trust and authority in an academic institution.
“We, therefore, strongly urge the Governing Council of FUOYE to do the needful, not only to salvage the institution’s reputation but also to restore confidence in the integrity of academic leadership in Nigeria. The time to act is now.
“We are appalled by the recent revelations implicating the VC, as the moral compass of any institution, a Vice-Chancellor must embody the values of integrity, discipline, and respect. However, the actions alleged against Professor Fasina severely undermine the sanctity of the office he holds and brought disrepute to FUOYE as a center of learning.
“It is deeply troubling that the leader of an institution tasked with nurturing and protecting its students and staff could be at the center of such a scandal. This incident, if left unaddressed, sets a dangerous precedent and threatens to erode the trust that students, staff, and stakeholders have in the university’s leadership,” the statement reads.
Meanwhile, a nine-man panel has been constituted by the Governing Council of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) to look into the allegation of sexual harassment against Prof. Fasina.
A statement signed by the Registrar of the University and Secretary of Council, Mufutau Ibrahim, said the decision was taken by the Council at its emergency meeting held on Friday, January 24, 2025.
It noted that online outfits, Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) and Sahara Reporters published a series of audio tapes alleging that the Vice-Chancellor sexually harassed Engr. Mrs Folashade Adebayo, a deputy director, of Works in the University.
It further stated that “The Governing Council extensively discussed the issues and observed that the Federal University Oye-Ekiti has been in the news lately for the wrong reasons and that the negative stories were obscuring the remarkable achievements of the University.