Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, the recently appointed Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), has been accused of siding with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, in a sexual harassment case brought against the VC by a female employee of the institution.
Engineer Folasade Adebayo may be suspended by the Governing Council of FUOYE today (Friday).
According to university sources who spoke to a media on Thursday, Ndoma-Egba is still endoring the Vice-Chancellor’s immoral actions, as shown in leaked audios.
Ndoma-Egba visited Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Michael Ademolaju, and vowed to deal with SSANU union which granted an interview over the allegations of sexual harassment and victimization.
One of the sources said, “We thought that justice has come to stay when the case was reported to Ndoma-Egba, until we started hearing that he will deal with the union that kicked against Fasina’s sexual harassment and victimisation of staff.
“He went to visit some traditional rulers and visited the Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Michael Ademolaju. A traditional chief stood up and prayed for Ndoma-Egba that God will help him to settle all the reports of injustice that are going at FUOYE.
“Ndoma-Egba responded that he will see to it, and questioned why a union would address the press, saying, ‘Who does that? We are going to put an end to this?’
“Ndoma-Egba said they petitioned that somebody approached a lady. He asked if they want that person to approach his fellow men. The issue has sparked a debate among FUOYE staff with many wondering how someone like Ndoma-Egba would make such an ungodly statement.”
The source told press that the saddest part is that evidence implicating the VC was forwarded to Ndoma-Egba but he ignored it.
“From all indications, we heard that the Governing Council of FUOYE has prepared a suspension letter for Engineer Adebayo. This shows that Fasina has bought Ndoma-Egba with money.
“Our thought was that Ndoma-Egba would investigate all the allegations and help the victim to get justice but It’s disheartening how money and power often overshadow fairness and justice.”
“We are calling on President Bola Tinubu and Minister of Education to come to our aid and act immediately so that the victim can get justice before Ndoma-Egba will create another crisis for the university,” another source said.
Upon being contacted, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of FUOYE, refuted the accusations.
He said a committee would be formed by the Governing Council to examine the issue.
“Well, the one-off suspending anybody is premature. It’s totally premature because that matter had been on before I came here, and my predecessor tried to resolve it in a peaceful way – to see both parties to talk about it.
“And, the Engineer Adebayo didn’t appear to be satisfied because she still wrote another petition. And those audios have gained a wider circulation, and they are now different versions.
Ndoma-Egba was asked about allegations that the council might suspend Engineer Adebayo and whether he had taken sides on the matter.
He replied, saying, “I said the council is setting up a committee today.
“So if I had taken sides, I would have announced my decision, which would have been improper because I’m Pro Chancellor. But there is a council, and every decision must be taken by the council, not the Pro Chancellor. And that is why it became necessary for us to summon an emergency council meeting to discuss it.”
He continued, “And about what they said I said, which you quoted is not true. What they said I said at the Oba’s palace is totally untrue. There are recordings of my speech.
“I think somebody is just being mischievous. What I said was that I was appointed as Pro Chancellor of the University on November 20. The union went to the media on November 25. They didn’t even give me an opportunity to wade into the matter.
“And after, they have written petitions directly to the minister. There are procedures; the grievance management procedures in every institution.
“And these are all issues that they will look at. Yesterday, I met with the unions. All the unions apart from ASUU. So, what was quoted is untrue, except they play the recording of my speech, that is totally out of it. Nothing close to what I said.
“Please, I have just come as Pro-Chancellor. Federal University Oye-Ekiti was set up with 12 others in 2011. I was in Lokoja before I was swapped to Ekiti. Today, Oye-Ekiti is the 4th most subscribed university in the country. That is not our assessment.
“That is the assessment of JAMB, looking at the number of applicants and all of that. Today, our student population is about almost 55,000 in 14 years. Today, we are ranked number 15 in 14 years. These are remarkable achievements that are not in the news. We are in the news now for inane reasons.”
“You know? So please also have that background. We should, as we promote these negative stories, we should also talk about the remarkable achievements of the university within a very short time,” Ndoma-Egba added.
The Vice Chancellor of Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, was implicated in a leaked audio recording allegedly showing him sexually harassing Engineer Folasade Adebayo, a married deputy director at the university’s Directorate of Works and Services.
Fasina is heard proclaiming his love to Adebayo, characterizing her as someone “so dear” to his heart.
“Marriage is by chance,” Fasina claimed on the recording, “You are the only right person to confide in, in and out.”
He reportedly compared his feelings for her to something “eating deeply” into him, saying they were intense and all-consuming.
In the meantime, Prof. Fasina, the vice chancellor, allegedly threatened our correspondent over the phone in September 2024 when a member of the media called him to ask about the claims of sexual harassment against a lecturer.
He said, “Young man, be very careful. You are showing interest in a matter that doesn’t concern you.
“Don’t be a judge in your own case, and you have become very insulting. Don’t go too far. Don’t go too far. You have become rude to the university. If you have an interest in a case, this is not how to go about it.
“Don’t begin to interfere in a matter that does not concern you. Come on, get out, my friend,” he added.
The Federal University Oye Ekiti branch of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) petitioned Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, in November 2024, asking him to act quickly to resolve claims of sexual harassment, victimization, and other governance issues at the university.