Controversy has deepened at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) following allegations that the suspended Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Fasina, sponsored fake students to attack staff members during a meeting allegedly supported by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba.
In a video obtained by SaharaReporters on Tuesday, several FUOYE staff were seen expressing fear for their safety after being attacked by suspected students who were reportedly not known to the university.
The chaos erupted during a meeting that had been convened for all staff members.
Aggrieved staff members of the school informed SaharaReporters that a circular, signed by the Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Mufutau A. Ibrahim, had invited all staff members to a meeting on Tuesday at the 1,000 Capacity Auditorium, Phase II.
The meeting was said to have been convened at the directive of Senator Ndoma-Egba.
Meanwhile, members of staff, while challenging the presence of the suspended Vice-Chancellor, Fasina, at the meeting, were attacked by some “hired students” who descended on them.
However, sources said staff members were shocked to see the suspended Vice-Chancellor, Professor Fasina, present at the meeting despite his ongoing suspension.
One staff member alleged that Ndoma-Egba has been attempting to reinstate Fasina, who had been asked to take research leave before his retirement, despite the Council Chairman having allocated N128 million to him.
“Fasina has overwhelmed the university community with notorious hooligans and rusticated students from nearby universities to harass, molest, and threaten innocent FUOYE staff members,” one of the aggrieved staff members told SaharaReporters.
The source further appealed to the Federal Government to intervene, saying, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must save FUOYE. Nigerians should rescue this institution from the leadership rascality of Fasina.”
Meanwhile, the circular issued on October 13, 2025, with reference number FUOYE/REG/CAD/025/Vol.1/125, confirmed that the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council officially called the meeting.
The statement read, “I write on behalf of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba, OFR, CON, SAN, to invite you to a meeting as scheduled below: Date: Tuesday, 14th October, 2025.
“Time: 9:00a.m, venue: 1000 Capacity Auditorium, Phase II.
“Consequently, all members of staff are advised to attend this meeting.”
The recent development has heightened concerns among FUOYE staff and students, who fear that the growing tension could further disrupt academic activities on campus.
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that Fasina, who was earlier sanctioned over alleged sexual advances toward a married staff member, Engineer Adebayo Folashade, had been welcomed back to the institution with pomp and security escorts.
SaharaReporters gathered on Tuesday that the university’s Governing Council, led by Senator Ndoma-Egba, jointly organised what sources described as a “shameless and academically embarrassing” event to reinstate the embattled VC, despite his pending issues.
According to an insider, the Council’s decision and the lavish welcome extended to Fasina sparked outrage within the university community and beyond.
“Today, 14th October 2025, FUOYE Governing Council and University Management jointly organised a shameless and academically embarrassing ‘Security Guard of Honour’ to welcome back a suspended sexual offender (Fasina) to office,” the source lamented.
The insider further accused Senator Ndoma-Egba of fostering corruption and mismanagement within the institution, saying his tenure as Council Chairman had “completely turned the once shining Federal University Oye-Ekiti into a shadow of itself.”
“Ndoma-Egba has become a symbol of shame to the Federal Ministry of Education,” the source added.
Professor Fasina was earlier suspended by the university’s Governing Council following allegations of sexual harassment and abuse of office, and was directed to proceed on leave since his tenure had elapsed.
His return, greeted by celebrations and tight security, has raised serious questions about accountability and ethical standards within Nigeria’s higher education system.
Stakeholders, including staff unions, have reportedly petitioned the Federal Ministry of Education, demanding an independent probe into the management of FUOYE by both Ndoma-Egba and Fasina under the current Council.
