FUOYE debunks VC suspension rumour, says Prof Fasina’s leave not connected to sexual harassment allegation
The Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), has debunked the fake news making the round being mischievously reported by some section of the media that the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the institution, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina was suspended by the Governing Council of the University.
The spurious and misleading story spread by mischief makers and purveyors of fake news was reportedly refuted in a press statement issued by the VC’s Special Adviser on Media Matters, Dr. Wole Balogun.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti FUOYE has been drawn to a fake news being circulated on some media platforms that the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, was suspended today, April 14, 2025 by the Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba’s led Governing Council. We categorically wish to state that such is fake news and should be dismissed by every well-meaning Nigerians and the rest of the world.
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“What really happened was that Prof. Fasina requested for the permission of the Governing Council to commence his accumulated leave and he was graciously granted by the Governing Council. After having served meritoriously and ensured tremendous achievements which have been unprecedented in the history of the University, Prof. Fasina deemed it fit to go for his accumulated leave and also research leave on his own. The truth is contained in the press release signed by the Registrar of the University and Secretary to the Council, Mr. Mufutau Ibrahim.”
The Registrar’s press release which confirmed the approval of the request of the VC to proceed on his accumulated annual and research leave by the Governing Council, reads: “The Governing Council of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) at its 7th Emergency Meeting held online on Monday 14th April, 2025, considered the request of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina to proceed on his accumulated Annual and Research Leave and approved six (6) months, being 126 working days out of his total entitlements of 228 days with effect from today, Monday, 14th April, 2025.
“In addition, the Governing Council appointed Prof. Olubunmi S. Shittu, the incumbent Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, who is also the most senior of the three (3) Deputy Vice-Chancellors, as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University for a period of six (6) months with effect from today, Monday, 14th April, 2025.”
Prof Fasina, a distinguished professor of soil science, who was recently conferred with the Independent Newspaper Best Vice Chancellor of the Year 2024 Award, in recognition of his exceptional leadership, transformative vision and remarkable exploits in FUOYE, was last week cleared by the Governing Council of the sexual harassment allegation levelled against him by a staff of the University, Engr. Folashade Adebayo.
The Governing Council had in a release also issued by the FUOYE Registrar, Mr. Ibrahim, after an exhaustive deliberation on the report of the investigative panel it set up to look into the matter at its 8th Extraordinary Meeting held on April 8, 2025, stated that “There was no case of sexual harassment thus confirming the earlier investigation by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) during which investigation Engr. Adebayo had made a statement that she was not sexually harassed. All documents relied on in the investigation by the Committee were attached to the report (NPF report, audio tapes, their transcripts, correspondences by the Vice Chancellor and Engr. Adebayo, minutes of management meetings, etc.”
