The management of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has issued a strong rebuttal against allegations from the institution’s chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), which claimed that Vice-Chancellor Professor Abayomi Fasina orchestrated the arrest and detention of its union leaders.
In a press release on Monday, the university described the allegations as “misleading and entirely baseless,” clarifying that the Vice-Chancellor was in Abuja on official duty and possesses no authority to direct the operations of the Nigeria Police Force.
The statement reveals that upon learning of the detention, Professor Fasina personally intervened with the police commissioner to plead for the union leaders’ release.
The dispute appears to have escalated in the days leading up to the VC’s return from a six-month accumulated leave. According to sources, a security report indicated that some SSANU members planned to disrupt the Vice-Chancellor’s scheduled return to office on October 14, 2025.
In response to this intelligence, the police invited the union leaders for an interaction on October 13, 2025. However, the invited members communicated that they were not in Ekiti State at the time and would report to the police upon their return.
Despite this, the VC’s return on October 14 was marred by a subsequent incident. During a meeting with the university community, a group of about ten SSANU members, led by Mr. Benjamin Faleye, allegedly attempted to incite a crisis. It was during this briefing that the members reportedly threatened the Vice-Chancellor, stating, “he would not be allowed to work and walk around the University.”
Following this confrontation, the University security unit formalized a security report, flagging the actions of the SSANU members as a potential threat to public peace and the institution’s stability.
When the union leaders eventually reported to the police, investigations revealed that the situation deteriorated.
The officials were described as “unruly,” as they “refused to be questioned and spoke without caution to the Commissioner of Police.”
A police source confirmed that the five SSANU officials, acting on existing security intelligence, were invited but “refused to cooperate and declined to write statements when asked,” leading to their brief detention.
The police source emphasized that the invitation was a standard procedure for maintaining order, stating that no individual is above the law.
Contrary to the narrative of his involvement, the university disclosed that Professor Fasina was at the Nigerian Law School in Abuja, working on the accreditation of FUOYE’s law students, when the incident unfolded.
“The VC was away at the Nigeria Law School when he heard that some union leaders had been invited by the police. Associating him with their detention is misleading and entirely baseless,” the university stated.
Crucially, it was revealed that when the matter reached the Vice-Chancellor, he “immediately contacted the commissioner of police and pleaded for their release,” an action that directly facilitated their freedom.
The university expressed deep concern over the behaviour of the union leaders, calling their attempts to cause chaos on campus as a disgrace in an academic environment.
Reaffirming its commitment to dialogue, staff welfare, and institutional progress, FUOYE management called on all stakeholders to focus on collaboration and constructive engagement rather than spreading falsehoods.”
