A civic advocacy group, Justice Vanguard, through its Coordinator, Mr. Obafemi Ajayi, has denied reports circulating in some media outlets claiming that the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, was suspended from office.
Ajayi described the reports as misleading and malicious, emphasising that the Vice Chancellor was never suspended but was merely on an officially approved leave.
In a statement, the Coordinator of Justice Vanguard explained that Professor Fasina’s six-month leave was duly sanctioned by the university’s Governing Council in April 2025, in line with public service regulations, and that he officially resumed duty on October 14, 2025.
Ajayi further stated that the Vice Chancellor had previously been exonerated of all sexual harassment allegations by the Police and by two independent investigative panels — one established by the former Pro-Chancellor and another by the current Governing Council.
“The Vice Chancellor was never suspended. He was on duly approved leave. He was cleared of allegations of sexual harassment by the Police and two panels set up by the previous Pro-Chancellor and the current one,” Ajayi clarified.
He expressed concern that the deliberate attempt by certain individuals to distort facts regarding the university’s leadership was regrettable and capable of diverting attention from the significant progress recorded by the institution in recent years. Ajayi therefore urged the public to disregard such reports, describing them as “contrived distractions” from FUOYE’s impressive achievements.
He also responded to the circulating video showing a guard of honour mounted during the resumption of key university officials, explaining that such displays are customary at FUOYE.
He noted that the guard of honour forms part of the university’s long-established tradition — a ceremonial gesture accorded to principal officers upon their assumption of duty. What was seen in the video, he explained, was simply a routine ceremonial guard of honour, consistent with the university’s long-standing practice.
“It is not peculiar to any individual. In fact both the Vice Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor were also welcomed with the same honour on assumption of duty,” Ajayi clarified.
He added that the gesture symbolises institutional respect, discipline, and order, noting that similar traditions exist in several other Nigerian universities.
“FUOYE is a model of rapid academic and infrastructural growth in Nigeria’s university system. The Council and management have maintained transparency, stability, and accountability, and stakeholders should not allow misinformation to derail that progress,” he said.
The group commended the university community for maintaining peace during the Vice Chancellor’s leave period, praising both staff and students for their discipline and unity of purpose.
Ajayi pointed out that FUOYE’s recent accomplishments in global rankings and research outputs have continued to strengthen its standing as one of Nigeria’s most dynamic and forward-thinking universities.
The institution was recently ranked among the top 15 universities in Nigeria in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026 and remains one of the most sought-after universities in the country, according to data from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
FUOYE also gained international recognition when four of its lecturers—Prof. Olayide Samuel Lawal, Dr. Adeolu Adesoji Adediran, Prof. Bukola Olalekan Bolaji, and Prof. Basiru Olaitan Ajiboye—were listed among the world’s top 2% scientists in the 2025 ranking released by the Top Scientists Network (TopSciNet).
The report by TopSciNet commended the researchers for their exceptional impact, citations, and productivity, noting that FUOYE’s inclusion reflected its growing influence in global academia.
Ajayi described the recognition as “a testament to the leadership of Professor Fasina and his team, whose commitment to excellence has placed FUOYE on the global academic map.”
He urged all stakeholders to focus on sustaining the university’s momentum in research-driven innovation and infrastructural advancement rather than being distracted by “distractive narratives propagated by a few individuals with ulterior motives.”
“What FUOYE has achieved in less than fifteen years is remarkable. The Vice Chancellor’s administration has deepened a culture of merit, discipline, and innovation. These gains should not be undermined by falsehood or sensationalism,” Ajayi stated.
