The Governing Council of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), on Monday, approved a six-month leave for the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Abayomi Sunday Fasina.

In a statement by Mufutau Ibrahim, the Registrar and Secretary to the Council, the Governing Council, during its 7th Emergency Meeting held virtually on Monday, 14 April 2025, granted the request of Professor Fasina to embark on his accumulated annual and research leave, covering 126 working days out of a total entitlement of 228.

In his absence, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Professor Olubunmi S. Shittu, has been appointed to serve as Acting Vice-Chancellor for the same duration, being the most senior among the three deputy vice-chancellors.

The statement reads, “The Governing Council of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) at its 7th Emergency Meeting held online on Monday 14th April, 2025, considered the request of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina to proceed on his accumulated Annual and Research Leave and approved six (6) months, being 126 working days out of his total entitlements of 228 days with effect from today, Monday, 14th April, 2025.

“In addition, the Governing Council appointed Prof. Olubunmi S. Shittu, the incumbent Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, who is also the most senior of the three (3) Deputy Vice-Chancellors, as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University for a period of six (6) months with effect from today, Monday, 14th April, 2025.”

The development comes shortly after the university’s Governing Council concluded investigations into allegations of sexual harassment earlier levelled against the Vice-Chancellor by a senior member of staff, Engr. Folasade Adebayo. 

Media reports that the council had set up a panel in January to address the lingering crisis, including the internal discord between the university’s management and the local branch of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).

Following its extraordinary meeting on 8 April, the council reviewed reports from the investigative committees and affirmed that no formal complaint of sexual harassment had been lodged against the Vice-Chancellor. 

The findings aligned with an earlier Nigeria Police Force investigation, which also established that the complainant denied experiencing harassment.

The council also criticised the unauthorised audio recordings of the Vice-Chancellor made by Engr. Adebayo, describing the act as a breach of university protocols and a potential tool for blackmail.

She was also directed to issue a written apology and cautioned against actions that could bring the institution into disrepute.