FUOYE Vice-Chancellor Cleared of Sexual Harassment Allegations

The Governing Council of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has formally exonerated the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina. He was cleared of all sexual harassment allegations made against him by a senior staff member, Mrs. Folasade Adebayo. The Council’s decision, announced on Wednesday, ends months of controversy. This controversy has cast a shadow over the institution’s administration.

The exoneration follows a detailed investigation. A committee was set up in February 2025 by the University Council. Its purpose was to probe the allegations pushed forward by Adebayo. The probe was also supported by the FUOYE chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU). The investigation came amidst heightened public interest and media scrutiny.


According to an official statement signed by the University Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Mr. Mufutau Ibrahim, the Council held a comprehensive review session in which it examined the evidence presented against the Vice-Chancellor. This process included listening to alleged audio recordings between the Vice-Chancellor and the complainant. The recordings were translated. They were then discussed thoroughly in the presence of all council members.

In a significant move to ensure transparency and eliminate bias, the Council requested that Professor Fasina excuse himself from the meeting during deliberations.

“The members held that there was no act of sexual harassment established in the recordings,” the Council stated. “This conclusion also aligns with earlier findings by the Nigerian Police, in which Mrs. Adebayo confirmed that she was not sexually harassed.”


The Council’s findings went further to reveal that the audio recordings were allegedly used as leverage in an attempt to pressure the Vice-Chancellor into confirming Adebayo as the substantive Director of Works and Services—an appointment outside his administrative jurisdiction.

The Council described the action as a clear misuse of internal communication. It was a deliberate attempt at coercion. The Council asserted that Adebayo’s behavior was aimed at damaging the reputation of the Vice-Chancellor. It also intended to harm the reputation of the university at large.


As part of its resolution, the Council directed that Mrs. Folasade Adebayo issue a written apology to the Governing Council within seven days for bringing the institution’s name into disrepute. Furthermore, the Council issued a formal warning to Adebayo and instructed the university management to reconsider her backdated promotion to 2015, which had been granted in 2024—a move the Council deemed irregular and indicative of preferential treatment.

“The handling of the matter by the university’s management raised serious concerns,” the statement noted. “Granting her a backdated promotion is inconsistent with established university policies, and such practices should be halted to avoid setting dangerous precedents.”

The Council also announced that the university will publicly advertise the vacant position of Director of Works and Services. They will also advertise the position of Director of Physical Planning. This approach is to ensure due process and transparency in future appointments.


The case attracted considerable attention not only within FUOYE but across Nigeria’s academic and civil rights landscape. Various staff unions and coalitions had earlier either supported or dismissed the allegations.

SSANU continued to push for investigations. They called for the Vice-Chancellor’s suspension at the peak of the crisis. However, other staff unions, including the Congress of Nigerian Academics (CONUA), NASU, and NAAT, defended Fasina. They labeled the claims as unfounded and politically motivated.

Multiple civil society groups also waded into the matter, some urging federal anti-corruption and gender rights agencies to take a closer look at the accusations. This led to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) briefly looking into the case, which also found no evidence of wrongdoing.


This incident marks one of the most contentious leadership challenges in FUOYE’s recent history. Professor Fasina has served as Vice-Chancellor since 2021. He has been credited with key institutional reforms. He has improved staff welfare and expanded academic programs. However, his tenure has not been without internal dissent, as evidenced by this episode.

Analysts believe the swift and transparent handling of the allegations by the university’s Governing Council may help restore confidence in the institution’s leadership and governance systems.


With the conclusion of the investigation, FUOYE is expected to shift its focus back to its core mission. The core mission is delivering quality tertiary education. It is also doing research. University stakeholders are optimistic. They believe the resolution will improve staff relations. They also foresee a more robust administrative environment.

The Council reiterated its commitment to fair administrative practices. It stressed that all future staff appointments and promotions must comply strictly with university regulations. They should follow merit-based procedures.


The exoneration of Vice-Chancellor Fasina serves as a potent reminder of the importance of due process in handling sensitive allegations within public institutions. It underscores the need for robust internal checks, transparent governance, and a culture of accountability.