FUOYE Governing Council Sets Up Panel to Probe Alleged Sexual Harassment by VC
The Governing Council of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) has established a nine-member panel to investigate allegations of sexual harassment against the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Fasina. The decision was made during an emergency meeting held on Friday, January 24, 2025.
A statement issued by the University’s Registrar and Secretary of the Governing Council, Mufutau Ibrahim, revealed that the decision follows the publication of a series of audio tapes by online outlets, including the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) and Sahara Reporters. The tapes allege that Prof. Fasina sexually harassed Engr. Mrs. Folashade Adebayo, a Deputy Director of Works at the University.
The statement highlighted that the Governing Council had discussed the matter extensively, acknowledging that FUOYE has recently faced negative media coverage, which was overshadowing the institution’s significant achievements. As a result, the Council decided to set up the panel to thoroughly investigate the allegations and get to the bottom of the matter within three weeks.
The panel’s terms of reference include investigating the origin of the viral audio recordings, which accuse the Vice Chancellor of making inappropriate advances and allegedly buying the positions of the Bursar and Registrar. Additionally, the committee will examine the motives behind the recordings, the spread of the tapes on social media, and the specifics of the allegations made by Engr. Adebayo. It will also review previous actions taken by the police, the immediate past Chairman of the Council, and others in relation to the matter.
Furthermore, the panel is tasked with investigating any other relevant issues related to the allegations.
The Governing Council has stated that it expects to review the committee’s report during its next meeting, which is scheduled for the third week of February 2025. In the meantime, the Council urged members of the University community and the public to remain calm and focused, assuring them that justice will be served and there will be no exceptions or “sacred cows” in the process.
