Sexual Harassment: VC Suspended, Acting VC Appointed

Following allegations of sexual harassment by a senior female university staff member, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) in Ekiti State, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, has been suspended from office.

The suspension, which takes effect immediately, followed the intervention of the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.

Meanwhile, Prof. Samuel Olubunmi Shittu, a Professor of Soil Science and the current Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), has been appointed as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university for six months, Persecondnews reports.

The complainant, Engr. Folasade Adebayo, had petitioned the university’s Governing Council, accusing the VC of sexual misconduct.

The Chairman of the Governing Council, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) had convened an emergency virtual meeting of the university’s Governing Council on Monday, April 14 and the Council resolved to remove Prof. Fasina from office under the guise of accumulated leave rather than outright suspension.

Prof. Fasina had pleaded with the Council to allow him to proceed on his accrued annual and research leave instead of facing direct suspension since his tenure is due to end in August.

A statement by the university’s Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Mufutau A. Ibrahim, on Monday said: “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 the interim, the Council has appointed Professor Samuel Olubunmi Shittu, a Professor of Soil Science and the current Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university for the next six months.

“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.”