Follow Us on Google
Staff and students of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) on Wednesday mobilised to the residence of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, after police officers reportedly arrived at his home in Ado-Ekiti in an attempt to arrest him.
The development attracted academic and non-academic staff, as well as students, who gathered at the Vice-Chancellor’s residence in solidarity and opposed the reported move.
Ogunwole said the police officers arrived at his official residence at about 6:10am after he had gone to bed around 3am.
According to him, his children woke him after noticing security personnel around the house. He said he initially remained indoors because he was unsure whether the men were genuine police officers and wanted to establish why they had come.
The Vice-Chancellor said the officers later informed him that they had a warrant, but he declined to leave his residence until he was properly informed of the basis for the proposed arrest.
Ogunwole linked the development to a petition allegedly filed by individuals connected with the university, including his predecessor, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, and a former Dean of the Faculty of Law, Dr Kehinde Adeola.
He said the dispute was connected to an audio recording which had allegedly been leaked, prompting university management to ask those involved to appear before an investigative committee.
According to Ogunwole, the matter subsequently went to court. He added that he had separately petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over what he described as threats to his life and workplace.
The Vice-Chancellor said his lawyers had contacted the police to explain that the matter was already before the court and that he remained available to respond to any lawful invitation.
He recalled that he had previously honoured a police invitation over another petition, appearing with his lawyers and answering questions from morning until evening before being released on self-recognisance.
Ogunwole questioned the decision to surround his residence rather than invite him through what he considered appropriate channels.
“Somebody of my calibre would not run away anywhere. Rather than surrounding my house, there are other better approaches to invite me,” he said.
Despite the development, the Vice-Chancellor said his administration remained focused on its plans for the university.
Other News
“There is no turning back. Our mission to create a new face for FUOYE. No U-turn, no diversion. We are resolute,” Ogunwole said.
The FUOYE branch chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr Ojo Fagbuagun, said the union mobilised to the residence because of what he described as an attempt to intimidate the Vice-Chancellor.
Fagbuagun alleged that some individuals associated with the university’s previous administration were unhappy with changes being introduced by Ogunwole.
He also alleged irregularities involving promotions and the management of university funds, including what he described as “illegal promotion, abnormal promotion, mismanagement of funds” and other misconduct. He did not provide evidence for the allegations during his interaction with journalists.
Fagbuagun further accused former Vice-Chancellor Fasina of resorting to police petitions rather than using internal mechanisms to resolve disputes within the institution.
He said academic staff would resist what he described as attempts to harass or intimidate Ogunwole.
“We are here this morning to show the whole world that our VC cannot be intimidated,” he said.
The branch chairman of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Comrade Oluwashola Babafemi, said members also joined the gathering to support what he described as the peace and progress under the current administration.
Babafemi said Ogunwole had remained accessible to staff and had paid attention to their welfare, adding that the association did not want developments capable of disrupting the university.
The FUOYE branch secretary of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), Comrade Emmanuel Adegun, said members were alerted to the presence of police officers at the Vice-Chancellor’s residence.
He said the union subsequently mobilised to the location to demonstrate solidarity with Ogunwole.
A non-teaching staff member, Victoria Adeyoju, also appealed for an end to what she described as efforts to intimidate the Vice-Chancellor, saying staff were interested in peace and good governance at the university.
FUOYE’s official website identifies Prof. Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole as the university’s Vice-Chancellor.
