The Governing Council of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has suspended its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, following serious allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by a senior university official, Engr. Folasade Adebayo.
This development was made public through an official statement issued on Monday by the university’s Registrar and Secretary to the Governing Council, Mufutau A. Ibrahim.
According to the statement, the Governing Council met virtually on Monday, April 14, 2025, during its 7th Emergency Meeting, where it approved Professor Fasina’s request to embark on his accumulated Annual and Research Leave. He was granted six months of leave, effective immediately, covering 126 working days out of his total 228-day leave entitlement.
In his absence, the Council has appointed Professor Olubunmi S. Shittu, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) and most senior among the Deputy Vice-Chancellors, to serve as Acting Vice-Chancellor for a period of six months, beginning Monday, April 14, 2025.
This action follows mounting pressure from the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who was reportedly displeased with the Council’s initial handling of the matter.
A reliable source revealed that the minister was furious that the Governing Council had allegedly dismissed the sexual harassment complaint and instead pressured the complainant to apologise to Professor Fasina.
The minister was said to have directly contacted the Chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), to express his strong disapproval of the Council’s actions.
Following the minister’s intervention, Senator Ndoma-Egba quickly convened an emergency virtual meeting of the Council at 2:00 p.m. on Monday. During the meeting, members agreed to suspend Professor Fasina. However, the Vice-Chancellor requested to proceed on leave rather than face outright suspension.
Meanwhile, Professor Samuel Olubunmi Shittu, a Professor of Soil Science and the current Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), has been appointed as Acting Vice-Chancellor for the interim period.
