The Governing Council of Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) in Ekiti State, Nigeria, has exonerated the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, from the sexual harassment allegations made against him by Engr. Folashade Adebayo, a deputy director at the university.
The Council dismissed the accusation as unfounded, referencing the findings of a previous investigation by the Nigeria Police Force, during which Engr. Adebayo stated that she had not been sexually harassed.
Additionally, the Council criticized Engr. Adebayo for tarnishing the university's reputation with the baseless allegation and instructed her to issue an unreserved apology to the Council within seven days.
The Council's statement clarified: "There is no case of sexual harassment, confirming the earlier investigation by the Nigeria Police Force, during which Engr. Adebayo stated that she was not sexually harassed. All relevant documents from the investigation, including the NPF report, audio recordings, transcripts, and communications between the Vice-Chancellor and Engr. Adebayo, were included in the report."
The Council also condemned the unauthorized recording of the Vice-Chancellor, stating that it was an attempt at blackmail to secure Engr. Adebayo's appointment as the substantive director of works, a decision outside the Vice-Chancellor's jurisdiction.
Furthermore, the Council noted that Engr. Adebayo had never formally accused Professor Fasina of sexual harassment, and thus, directed that she be reprimanded for bringing disrepute to the university. She was instructed to submit a written apology within seven days.
In a separate matter, the Council addressed the misconduct of Mr. Benjamin Faleye, Chairman of SSANU-FUOYE branch, and Mrs. Ayomikun Aluko. Both individuals were found guilty of gross misconduct and were also ordered to apologize to the Council within seven days.
