By Shakirudeen Bankole
A Coalition of gender and human rights organizations have stepped into the allegation of sexual harassment made by a female Director at the university against the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof Abayomi Sunday Fasina.
The Coalition, in a petition to the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), signed by 12 of its member organisations, seeks a probe into the lingering controversy.
The petition was also copied to the IGP, the National Assembly, the Minister of Justice, the Human Rights Commission and the National Universities Commission, among others.
The case, the Coalition said in its petition,
“represents a gross abuse of authority, contravention of institutional ethics, and a flagrant violation of Nigeria’s legal frameworks on workplace harassment and gender-based violence.”
The Coalition, which emphasized the need for protection of the female staff, expressed its doubt over the ability of the panel constituted by the University authorities to conduct an impartial investigation into the matter.
” We respectfully express our lack of confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the
Committee constituted by the Governing Council of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti to
investigate this matter and request the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to immediately assume jurisdiction over this case to conduct an independent, thorough, and impartial investigation into the allegations against Professor Fasina”, the Coalition said, in its petition.
“The investigative scope should include a review of FUOYE’s internal mechanisms for handling sexual harassment cases, with a focus on identifying systemic failures and recommending necessary reforms.”
The petition reads in full:
The Honorable Chairman,
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)
Plot 802, Constitution Avenue,
Central Business District,
Abuja, Nigeria.
Cc:
The Honourable Minister of Education
The Attorney General and Minister for Justice
The Honorable Minister for Women Affairs and Social Development
The Inspector General of Police
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Education
The Chairman House Committee on Universities
The National Human Rights Commission
The National Universities Commission
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Corruption
PETITION TO DEMAND TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND JUSTICE
IN THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASE INVOLVING THE VICE-CHANCELLOR
OF THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OYE EKITI (FUOYE)
We, the undersigned organizations, write with utmost concern regarding the recent revelations involving Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), in a case of sexual harassment against a married subordinate, Engineer Folasade Adebayo, Deputy Director at the Directorate of Works and Services. This case
represents a gross abuse of authority, contravention of institutional ethics, and a flagrant violation of Nigeria’s legal frameworks on workplace harassment and gender-based violence.
This petition seeks to bring to your immediate attention the following points for urgent action:
1. BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW OF THE CASE
1.1 On January 20, 2025, an exclusive investigative report published by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) detailed allegations of sexual harassment leveled against the Vice-Chancellor of FUOYE, Professor Abayomi Fasina. The report includes audio recordings, which unequivocally capture the Vice-Chancellor coercing a subordinate to engage in an illicit sexual relationship against her will.
1.2 The evidence provided indicates that the Vice-Chancellor abused his position of authority
to make inappropriate and persistent sexual advances toward Mrs. Adebayo. Despite her
repeated refusals, Professor Fasina employed manipulative tactics and leveraged his
administrative powers and institutional influence to pressure her into compliance.
1.3 The Governing Council of FUOYE has constituted a 9-member investigative panel to
examine the allegations. However, the inclusion of an additional mandate to investigate the
“motive” behind recording the audio conversation and its subsequent release raises significant concerns about the potential victimization of Mrs. Adebayo and a lack of impartiality in the investigative process.
2. LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL IMPLICATIONS
2.1 Violation of Workplace Ethics and Institutional Guidelines
2.1.1 As a public institution, FUOYE is bound by ethical codes of conduct and workplace
policies aimed at safeguarding employees and students from sexual harassment, discrimination and exploitation. The alleged actions of Professor Fasina constitute a breach of these codes and undermines the integrity and credibility of the university.
2.1.2 His documented remarks highlighted how he strategically promoted Mrs. Adebayo to the
main campus to facilitate closer proximity for his personal agenda. This represents a conflict
of interest, abuse of office, and gross misconduct under extant Nigerian labor laws.
2.2 Contravention of Nigerian Laws on Sexual Harassment
2.2.1 The allegations against the Vice-Chancellor are in direct violation of the Violence Against
Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015 (VAPP Act), which criminalizes acts of sexual harassment,
coercion, and abuse of power in professional and institutional settings.
2.2.2 Section 14 of the VAPP Act specifically addresses the misuse of authority in sexual
harassment cases and imposes severe penalties on offenders who exploit their positions of
power to demand sexual favors.
2.2.3 Section 19 of ICPC Act criminalizes the use of office or position to gratify or confer an
unfair advantage upon oneself or any other person. Section 22 further reinforces the criminality of an action by a public officer to use their position to confer corrupt or unfair advantages on themselves, their relatives, or associates.
3. CONCERNS REGARDING INSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY
3.1 Lack of Impartiality in the Investigative Process
The mandate of the Governing Council’s investigative panel raises red flags about its
objectivity and the likelihood of victim-blaming. By focusing on the victim’s actions (e.g.,
recording the conversations) rather than solely addressing the perpetrator’s misconduct, the
panel risks perpetuating the culture of impunity and discouraging other victims from coming
forward.
3.2 Historical Precedence of Inadequate Responses and Institutional Complacency
FUOYE has a troubling history of mishandling sexual harassment cases involving its staff.
Previous incidents, such as the cases of Professors Adewole Atere and Anthony Agbegbedia, were met with institutional complacency, with perpetrators often receiving minimal disciplinary action while victims were left without justice.
3.3 Potential Retaliation Against the Victim
Given the power dynamics at play, there is a high likelihood of retaliation against Mrs.
Adebayo, including threats to her job security, professional reputation, or personal safety. It is
imperative that she receives adequate protection throughout this process.
OUR DEMANDS
In light of the above, we respectfully request the following actions to ensure transparency,
accountability, and justice:
4.1 Independent Investigation by Relevant Authorities
4.1.1 We respectfully express our lack of confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the Committee constituted by the Governing Council of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti to
investigate this matter and request the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related
Offences Commission (ICPC) to immediately assume jurisdiction over this case to conduct an
independent, thorough, and impartial investigation into the allegations against Professor Fasina.
4.1.2 The investigative scope should include a review of FUOYE’s internal mechanisms for
handling sexual harassment cases, with a focus on identifying systemic failures and
recommending necessary reforms.
4.2 Protection of the Victim
4.2.1 The safety and well-being of Mrs. Adebayo should be guaranteed including access to
legal, psychological, and social support as necessary.
4.2.2 Mrs. Adebayo should also be granted whistleblower protection under relevant Nigerian laws to shield her from retaliation or victimization.
4.3 Institutional Accountability and Systemic Reforms
4.3.1 The Federal Ministry of Education should review FUOYE’s institutional policies on
sexual harassment and workplace ethics and mandate the implementation of robust
preventative measures and accountability frameworks and further direct the National
Universities Commission to prioritize sexual harassment prevention as a regulatory issue.
4.3.2 The National Universities Commission should perform its regulatory role of ensuring
quality assurance which should extend to the safety of both educators and learners in
transferring knowledge and acquiring same respectively.
4.3.3 FUOYE’s Governing Council should be held accountable for any procedural lapses or
attempts to shield the Vice-Chancellor from justice.
4.4 Legislative Oversight and Advocacy
4.4.1 The House and Senate Committee on Education should summon FUOYE’s leadership to provide a detailed report on the steps being taken to address this and other unresolved cases of sexual harassment within the institution.
4.4.2 The Ministry of Women Affairs should collaborate with civil society organizations to
advocate for stronger enforcement of anti-harassment laws across tertiary institutions in
Nigeria.
This case serves as a litmus test for Nigeria’s commitment to eradicating power-centred genderbased violence and fostering a culture of accountability in public institutions. In light of the foregoing, we, the undersigned Civil Society Organizations, respectfully urge the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to exercise its statutory powers under the ICPC Act, 2000, particularly Sections 19, 22(3), and other relevant provisions, to investigate the alleged abuse of office by Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE). We implore the Commission to ensure that this investigation results in concrete legal and institutional outcomes that serve as a deterrent to similar conduct in the future, thereby upholding the rule of law and fostering trust in Nigeria’s public institutions.
We trust in your Commission’s commitment to justice, transparency, and the eradication of
corruption in all its forms.
Enclosed is the Terms of Reference Document for the Investigative panel set up by the
Governing Council.
Yours in Service
Signed by:
GENDER MOBILE INITIATIVE
BAOBAB FOR WOMEN’S HUMAN RIGHTS
BALM IN GILEAD FOUNDATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
HOPE BEHIND BARS AFRICA
THE NEW GENERATION GIRLS AND WOMEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
(NIGAWD)
COMMUNITY WOMEN’S RIGHTS FOUNDATION
GENDER RELEVANCE INITIATIVE PROMOTION
EDUCATION AS A VACCINE
SHEHU MUSA YAR’ADUA FOUNDATION
BRAVEHEART INITIATIVE
HUWAILA MUHAMMED IBRAHIM
SPEAKOUT AFRICA INITIATIVE
