Despite several evidences, the Governing Council of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has rejected the sexual harassment allegations levelled against the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abayomi S. Fasina, by a senior engineer, Engr. Folasade Adebayo.
The council instead condemned the recording of the Vice-Chancellor without his knowledge or consent and issued Adebayo a warning, directing her to apologise for allegedly tarnishing the image of the university.
This decision was disclosed in a statement signed by the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Mr. Mufutau A. Ibrahim, after the Council’s 8th Extraordinary Meeting held on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.
According to the statement, the Council reviewed the findings of various investigative panels, including one on the sexual harassment allegation raised by Engr. Adebayo, who formerly served as Acting Director of Works and Services.
The Council, however, concluded that no formal complaint of sexual harassment had ever been submitted by Engr. Adebayo, and faulted her conduct in the entire saga.
Council noted that Engr. Folasade Adebayo never made any complaint of sexual harassment against the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi S. Fasina.
The Council described the audio recordings, allegedly made by Engr. Adebayo, as “tools for blackmail” used in a bid to pressure the university into confirming her as substantive Director of Works, a power the Vice-Chancellor does not possess.
The statement read, “On the alleged case of sexual harassment levelled against the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abayomi S. Fasina; Council asked the Vice Chancellor to recuse himself from the meeting to ensure free and open deliberation on the report. The audio recordings were listened to by all council members with the assistance of a translator.
“Thereafter, Council discussed the Report exhaustively though the audio recordings were not subjected to any forensic evaluation and arrived at the following: There was no case of sexual harassment thus confirming the earlier investigation by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) during which investigation Engr. Adebayo had made a statement that she was not sexually harassed.
“All documents relied on in the investigation by the Committee were attached to the report (NPF report, audio tapes, their transcripts, correspondences by the Vice-Chancellor and Engr. Adebayo, minutes of Management meetings etc).”
The council condemned the recording of the Vice Chancellor without his knowledge and consent. All members of Council agreed that the recordings were tools for blackmail to confirm Engr. Adebayo as substantive Director of Works which the Vice Chancellor has no authority to do.
“Contrary to Engr. Adebayo’s allegation that she was removed as Ag. Director of Works and Services, her tenure rather expired.
“Council noted that Engr. Folasade Adebayo never made any complaint of sexual harassment against the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi S. Fasina howsoever,” they stated.
They said, “Council directed that Engr. Adebayo be warned for bringing the name of the University to disrepute. She is also directed to write a letter of apology to Council within seven (7) days.
“Council condemned Management for the preferential treatment meted out to Engr. Adebayo by backdating her promotion to 2015 in 2024. Hence, Council directed that Management be formally warned and to desist from such act.
“Council directed that the unwarranted backdated promotion be reviewed appropriately.
Meanwhile, the council directed that the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abayomi S. Fasina be advised in writing to be more careful and circumspect in dealing with subordinates.
According to them, “Council is to come up with policies on cyber-bullying, use of social media, community and public relations.
“Council also condemned the act of recording people without their knowledge and consent as this is inconsistent with the freedoms of an academic community.
” Council is to advertise for the substantive positions of Director of Physical Planning and Director of Works and Services.
“Council will set up a Peace and Reconciliation Committee to look into all issues within the University, the governing council said.
The statement continues, “Council will also organize On-boarding and Re-orientation programmes for new and existing staff of the University respectively.
“Council directed that letters be written to two former members of Council namely, Messrs Abdullah Salihu Jibrin and Alkali Aji Kolo exonerating them from the false accusation of receiving money for the appointment of the Registrar and Bursar.
“On the issue regarding Internal Review Processes for Promotion to Professorial Cadre with case study on Dr. Ngozi C. Ole, Council reviewed its internal processes for promotion, identified weaknesses and decided on the steps to strengthen FUOYE’s internal promotion exercise procedures.
“Finally, following the report of last Visitation Panel to the University, Council identified the need to name roads and buildings within the University after notable Nigerian personalities that either impacted the community, State or the Nation after obtaining their consent to do so,” they added.
On January 23, 2025, SaharaReporters reported that the school VC, Fasina, admitted to making romantic advances toward Adebayo and expressed frustration over the public disclosure of their interaction.
In an audio recording obtained by SaharaReporters, Fasina admitted to making romantic advances toward Adebayo and expressed frustration over the public disclosure of their interaction.
Fasina questioned Adebayo to know how their conversation was leaked to a third party.
The audio conversation went as follows:
Fasina: Why did you reveal our discussion?
Adebayo: Me! I never do such.
Fasina: Well, why I called you, somebody told me and I know it is from you.
Adebayo: I can never.
Fasina: He told me that I was even making advances toward you.
Adebayo: Me?
Fasina: It was so obvious that it was you. He said, I make advances with you, that if I’m doing that, that I should stop. Then that I even said that we gave some people money to manipulate appointment for the registrar, many things and I was like, haba! Adebayo, how could you do that to me? Nobody will know that I made advances toward you. I don’t think anyone would ever find out.
Number two, nobody will know that, he said SSS called him in Abuja blah blah on the matter, so it means you have not learned your lesson. I will tell you why. You had issue with Soremekun, nothing bad in making advances to you, you have options to say no.
But don’t begin to externalize, begin to tell people, you are making a mockery of yourself because number one, you are not only the woman on the campus. Many others are also making advances with the vice-chancellor, it is not all those who make advances to me I accepted.
Many ladies make advances to me, but the point is, the fact that someone makes advances toward you does not mean you should respond. It shows no maturity and then you are exposing yourself more to danger.
Because people will know definitely that you are the architect of your problem. Somebody told me, saying, ‘What is the problem with this girl? If she has a problem with Soremekun, and she has a problem with you, what’s going on?’ The person also said, ‘It’s part of what I did for you. Even if I made romantic advances towards you, even if I did that, I apologise for it.
I have already apologized, and that’s why I blocked you on my phone. Today, I was forced to call you, but I don’t want any interaction with you, which is why I said Akin needs to be here. However, I didn’t want Akin to know about this.
Adebayo: Excuse me, sir, what you are saying is like blackmail.
Fasina: It is not blackmail; the person called me and told me, I recorded it.
Adebayo: Did you ever ask him who told him? I never called Noah, let me call him.
Fasina: He told me that even the people in DSS office are calling that this is what the situation is. I don’t even know who you discussed with, if it wasn’t you that told him, he won’t say it.
He said that someone made advances toward you, harassed you, and claimed they wanted to have fun with you. He told me that if I did that, I should stop. He affirmed to me that I am a man of good standing as a Christian. If you’ve really told some people about it, please stop.
He also mentioned that they called him from the SSS office. How can someone outside know what is happening here?
Adebayo: I want you to give me a fair hearing, you remember the time you called me last that Sobowale said something.
Fasina: No, even as of yesterday night, Sobowale was in my house. Sade, let me tell you.
Adebayo: Oga, let me talk.
Fasina: I will not, I will not, because you cannot convince me.
Adebayo: I don’t need to convince you; the truth needs to be told.
Fasina: As you see me now, the mistake I ever did in my life is that I made love advances to you. If I like someone, that is my way of showing it. You are a married woman so. But the point is that I felt we should be.
For me you can go, but I have said what is on my mind and Sobowale also said it. The person that told him are up to six, and they didn’t speak very well. Sobowale said you are not mature.
Adebayo: Sir, let me say something.
Fasina said: I thought you were a good Christian. Sobowale said why would I backdate someone’s appointment? I have a plan and the passion to pursue it. If someone offends me, I will apply the same passion to dislike that person.
Adebayo: Oga, excuse me sir, let me say something.
Fasina: I brought Olaiye back and I told Olaiye that you offended me through UIK and these people, but you have learned your lesson, that’s me. And I said I have forgiven you.
Adebayo: Please, let me say something.
Fasina: If you like, be recording me ooo.
Adebayo: How would I record you? I was trying show you that I did not call him.
Fasina: No, just go ahead.
Adebayo: The number one thing is that I don’t expect you to expose our conversation to anyone. I felt bad that day, and when I called you, you said it was no problem. That’s beside the point.
You know I will never do such thing; you may not believe me.
Fasina: I have heard you. I told the management that they should be very careful with you. If someone can tell Noah that we paid money for the appointment of the registrar and bursar, that’s a serious issue.
Source: Sahara Reporters