FUOYE Registrar Dismisses Sexual Harassment Allegations Against VC, Preempts Investigative Committee Report Denies VC’s Involvement in the Arrest of Victim’s Brother Despite Ekiti NUJ Revelations

 Akin Akinsoluga 

The Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) Registrar, Mr. Mufutau Ibrahim, has dismissed allegations of sexual harassment against the institution’s Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina. His statement, which came while the investigative committee was still conducting its inquiry, has sparked concerns over the impartiality of the investigation.

The controversy deepened with the recent arrest of Dr. Agbeleoba, the brother of the alleged victim, by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS). Several news media reported on the incident, with a widely circulated report stating:

“A family friend who requested anonymity told FIJ that DSS operatives did not disclose the exact reason for Agbeleoba’s arrest. However, the source speculated that it might be linked to the sexual harassment allegations involving his sister and the Vice-Chancellor.”

Similarly, another report claimed:

“Sexual Harassment! Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, is using DSS operatives in Ekiti to intimidate the family and associates of a married woman who accused him of sexual harassment. Now, the VC is targeting anyone he suspects might have access to certain phone conversations.”


FUOYE Registrar Denies Allegations, Raises Concerns Over Investigation

Reacting swiftly, FUOYE’s Registrar, Mr. Mufutau Ibrahim, categorically denied the allegations, calling them false and misleading. In his statement, he said:

“The assertion that the Vice-Chancellor ordered Agbeleoba’s arrest is pure falsehood, just as the allegations of sexual harassment are also unfounded. We urge the public to disregard these false reports.”

However, Ibrahim’s dismissal of the sexual harassment allegations, even though the investigative committee has yet to conclude its findings, has raised serious concerns. His statement is seen as reckless and as preempting the outcome of the investigation, thereby affirming concerns previously expressed by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and other stakeholders about the integrity of the committee. Critics argue that allowing the VC to remain in office while under investigation creates an environment that could compromise the process.

Some senior members of the university, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed deep concerns over the level of compromise and manipulation allegedly taking place within the university.

Ekiti NUJ Exposes DSS's Justification for Arrest
Further contradicting the university’s stance, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti State Chapter, revealed that during their visit to the DSS Director, it was disclosed that Agbeleoba was arrested because he was perceived as “one of the leading voices seeking justice and accountability in the sexual harassment allegations.”

As the controversy unfolds, calls are growing for an independent and transparent investigation, free from internal influence. Meanwhile, stakeholders, including rights groups and academic unions, continue to demand that justice be served without fear or favour.