The Many Lies of the Embattled Vice Chancellor, Professor Fasina: How FUOYE’s VC Built a Fortress of Contradictions

Akin Akinsoluga, Oye Ekiti.

Prof. Abayomi Sunday FASINA

The storm around the Vice Chancellor of Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Professor Abayomi Fasina, is far from over. While some writers have attempted to whitewash his controversies with glowing prose about his “non-negotiable return,” a deeper examination of facts, investigative reports, and legal documents reveals a story that cannot be erased by propaganda.

Dubious Leave and Fast-Track Approvals

How does a sitting Vice Chancellor write a leave application on the 14th of April, receive Council approval that same day, and commence leave immediately? More disturbingly, Fasina’s so-called research leave was approved without naming the host institution where the research would take place, and also N128 Million was alleged to have been approved for such a leave, even when research leave is sponsored by host universities worldwide.

Prof. Fasina's Leave Letter

This suggests a manipulation of due process and raises concerns about the legitimacy of the entire arrangement.

“Can any sitting VC go on research leave with no named institution, and implement such leave the same day? The question exposes the illegality.”

Contradictions in ICPC Investigation

In his leave letter above, Fasina claimed he was one of the reasons for stepping aside to allow “independent investigation.” Yet shortly after, he dragged the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to court, effectively blocking the same investigation he claimed to welcome.

This contradiction is not a small matter; it points to deliberate deception. The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) Vice President, as reported in Global Hotline News, rightly questioned how one can submit an investigation in words, while frustrating it in deeds.

The FIJ Exposés: Sexual Harassment and Misuse of Funds

The Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) in 2025 published a two-part exposé alleging Fasina’s sexual harassment of a married staffer, Engr. Folashade Adebayo. Audio recordings, transcripts, and communications were made public.

FIJ further reported that Fasina authorised ₦5 million from FUOYE accounts to fund his personal defamation suit, effectively using public resources for private legal battles.

Protesters displaying waste of IGR on Kigali Trip by both Council and Management.

These revelations go beyond mere “allegations”, they expose troubling patterns of abuse of office.

“When staff are suspended over mere petitions, why was the VC left in office while facing audio-documented allegations?”

The Double Salary Saga

Another shadow over Fasina’s career is the allegation of double salaries, simultaneously from Ekiti State University (EKSU) and FUOYE. Former FUOYE ASUU chairman, Dr Akinyemi Omonijo, publicly raised the issue, prompting Fasina to sue him for ₦500 million in libel damages.

Although the university later claimed the payments were arrears and a Federal High Court cleared Fasina of wrongdoing, public suspicion lingers, especially given the aggressive attempts to silence whistleblowers through litigation rather than full transparency.

Media Warfare: Sahara Reporters, FIJ, and Court Suits

Sahara Reporters has also published stories alleging contract manipulation and administrative interference under Fasina. Instead of engaging with the substance, FUOYE’s PR office dismissed the outlet as a “fake news hub,” demanding retractions.

Meanwhile, Fasina has dragged FIJ, Sahara Reporters, and Mrs Adebayo to court, demanding apologies, injunctions, and hundreds of millions in damages.

This pattern suggests an administration more eager to silence critics than to clear doubts.

The Bigger Picture

The so-called “voice of SSANU” paraded in propaganda pieces was nothing more than a private phone call distorted for public consumption. The truth is that unions were misrepresented. No ASUU Congress at FUOYE ever discussed or authorised any endorsement of Fasina’s return. What existed was the manipulation of individuals’ private views, falsely tagged as “union positions.” In reality, it was SSANU, NAAT, and NASU FUOYE branches that collectively rejected Fasina’s return, while also calling for the removal of the current council chairman due to bias and compromised leadership.

Protesters

From sexual harassment allegations to questionable financial decisions, from double salary controversies to court battles, Fasina’s tenure is a textbook case of how university governance can lose its moral compass.

The truth is simple: FUOYE does not need propaganda or selective storytelling. It needs accountability.

The many lies of Professor Fasina, his dubious leave, contradictions on ICPC investigation, questionable handling of public funds, and reliance on propaganda are not sustainable. The future of FUOYE and its thousands of staff cannot be mortgaged on the altar of one man’s ambition.

“Leadership is not about silencing critics. It is about truth, transparency, and trust.”

A Call to Action

At this critical juncture, we must sound the alarm: the Presidency, the Minister of Education, and relevant government agencies must urgently intervene to save FUOYE from another era of crisis. Allowing Fasina’s return will plunge the institution into deeper turmoil, jeopardise staff welfare, and derail the university’s progress.

SSANU, NAAT and NASU Members Protesting

The Governing Council must be cautioned. It cannot act against the collective will of staff and the principles of fairness. A university should not be held hostage by one man’s ambition or by the cover-up of his contradictions.

FUOYE’s future depends on timely intervention. The government must act now to prevent another round of chaos.