The Governing Council of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), has cleared the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Fasina, of sexual harassment allegations brought against him by a senior lecturer, Mrs. Folasade Adebayo.
This decision was made following a thorough investigation by a committee set up earlier in February, in response to persistent calls from the university’s chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).
In a statement signed by the university’s Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Mr. Mufutau Ibrahim, the council stated that Prof. Fasina stepped aside from the meeting where the findings were discussed to ensure open and unbiased deliberation.
During the meeting, council members reviewed alleged audio recordings of the incident with the aid of a translator. After careful examination, it was unanimously concluded that no sexual harassment took place — a conclusion that aligns with a prior investigation by the Nigerian Police, in which Adebayo herself reportedly stated that she was not harassed.
According to the council, the audio recordings were instead used as a tool to pressure the Vice Chancellor into confirming Adebayo as the substantive Director of Works and Services, a decision that is outside his jurisdiction.
“Council directed that Adebayo be warned for bringing the name of the university to disrepute. She is directed to write a letter of apology to the council within seven days,” the statement added.
The council also expressed concern over how the university’s management handled the matter, particularly pointing to Adebayo’s promotion being backdated to 2015 — a move approved in 2024. It warned against such irregularities and directed that the backdated promotion be reviewed immediately.
Furthermore, the council resolved that the positions of Director of Physical Planning and Director of Works and Services would be openly advertised to maintain transparency and merit-based appointments.
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