The Western Zone of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), has kicked against the composition of the 9 – member committee set up by the Governing Council of Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State to investigate allegations of sexual harassment by Mrs. Folashade Adedayo, an engineer, against the university Vice Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina.
The Daily Crucible reports that the Governing Council of FUOYE had on Friday, January 24, constituted a 9 – member investigation committee to probe the allegations of sexual harassment against the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina.
The panel it was learnt, has Prof, Ogunwole Joshua, Hon Mrs Omoworare Nike, Mrs Nafisat Nahuche, Barrister Gowon Maxwell, Mr Mathew Nganjiozor
Mr Olusola O Taiwo, Prof. Ajiboye Abiodun, Mr Arogundade Tope and
Barrister L A Eni as members.
However, reacting to the composition of the Committee, the Western zone of the SSANU kicked against it and demanded a review of the membership to ensure neutrality and credibility of the panel investigation.
In a letter dated January 27, 2025 and addressed to the Pro- Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, SSANU also faulted the terms of reference for the probe panel, saying it is fundamentally flawed and diversionary from the main issue.
The letter signed by Abdussobur Olayiwola Salaam, PhD, National Vice- President & Chairman of SSANU, was copied to the Honorable Minister of Education, Honorable Minister of Labour and Employment, Honorable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, President, Nigeria Labour Congress and National President, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities.
According to the association, the terms of reference of the probe panel are skewed more towards investigating the source of the online media reports on the matter rather than the veracity of the immorality, sexual harassment and victimization alleged against the Vice- Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Fasina.
The association stressed that of all the seven Terms of Reference, the first three of it are focused on the sources of the audios, the motives of the recordings, and how the recordings gained currency in the social media instead of the veracity of the allegations.
The body equally demanded the suspension of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina and recusing of six members of the investigation committee/panel to ensure credibility and integrity of the task and its eventual outcome.
“We therefore specifically demand that Mr. Matthew Ngajiozor and Barrister Godwin Maxwell be asked to step aside in order to give credibility to the exercise.In similar vein, the Chairman of Council would recall that his first official assignment/ directive was the suspension of the SSANU Chairman and Secretary over this same issue and the setting up of a Committee to investigate the roles of the two union leaders. The Committee, led by one Mrs. Nike Omoworare, submitted a report which has been countered by a minority report submitted by the SSANU representative on the Committee.
“In view of the pendency of the consideration of both majority and minority reports, it would be inauspicious for the members who served on that Committee, having had their modus operandi and findings faulted by SSANU through a Minority Report, to serve on this Committee, which is effectively in continuance of the previous Committee.
“Consequently, we demand the stepping down of Mrs. Nike Omoworare, Professor Joshua Ogunwole, Mr. Tope Arogundade and Barrister L. A. Eni who participated in an exercise, the outcome of which has been faulted by SSANU through its representative.
“In effect, we wish to state that apart from the Committee Chairperson, Mrs. Ifeoma Ndukwu, Mr. Olusola Taiwo, and Professor Ajiboye Abiodun, all other members of the Committee (six of them) lack the moral and ethical competence to sit on this Committee, as their roles have been technically and vicariously compromised over the matter.”
Continuing, it stated, “While the Union commends the Council for the courage in excusing the Vice- Chancellor from its meeting of Friday, 24th January 2024, we are still at a loss as to why the Vice- Chancellor has not been suspended over the allegations against him. It smacks of injustice and double standards that the Chairman and Secretary of SSANU were immediately suspended by the Council even before a Panel was constituted to investigate the issue, while the Vice- Chancellor, whose stay in office has a high potentiality of influencing the outcome of the Committee is allowed to continue to superintend over the affairs of the University.
“The powers of the Vice- Chancellor include approvals of funds for Council members and operations of Committees (not excluding the one under reference), approvals of release of university venues for meetings, secretariat servicing the meetings among others.
“The Vice- Chancellor’s unbridled access to university documents, offices, officials and staff, while the investigations are ongoing, have grave implications on the outcome of the Committee. In fact, to keep the Vice- Chancellor in office unfettered, is the greatest injustice that the Governing Council would be doing on this matter, more especially when our Branch Chairman and Secretary remain suspended.The Chairman of Council is urged to please realise that SSANU has a major stake in this matter.
“The career and life of our members, Mrs. Folashade Adebayo is on the line. The careers and livelihoods of our officers, Comrade Benjamin Faleye and Ayomikun Aluko have been threatened because whistleblowing has been criminalized in FUOYE. For the Union, these two officers have acted on our behalf in protecting the interests of our member and blowing the whistle on unhealthy practices at the workplace.
“The issues of sexual harassment and victimization are highly sensitive and should be treated with all sense of responsibility by the Council of FUOYE. The University would be best served if this matter is handled with fairness than any attempt to shield or protect the Vice- Chancellor. That our members have been harassed, victimized, threatened and suspended through the instrumentality of a powerful Vice- Chancellor demands that we shall not sit idly by, and allow the Terms of Reference, Composition and modus operandi of the Committee to target the victim(s),” letter concluded in part.
The letter in full:
The Pro- Chancellor & Chairman of Council, Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State
OBSERVATIONS ON THE NINE- MEMBER COUNCIL COMMITTEE SET UP TO INVESTIGATE THE ALLEGATIONS IN RESPECT OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT BY ENGR. MRS. FOLASHADE ADEBAYO AGAINST THE VICE- CHANCELLOR, PROFESSOR ABAYOMI. S. FASINA
The Western Zone of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), in furtherance of our previous exchanges on the ongoing crisis at the Federal University, Oye Ekiti involving our member, Engineer (Mrs) Folashade Adebayo, which has led to the suspension of our Branch Chairman, and Secretary, Comrades Benjamin Faleye and Ayomikun Aluko, hereby formally make our observations in respect of the recently constituted Council Committee set up to investigate the issue. We wish to strongly point out that beyond being a stakeholder in the University system, in view of the dimensions and parties concerned, SSANU has a principal stake more so having been issued a Pre- Action Notice by Professor Abayomi Fasina’s lawyers, Ebun- Olu Adegboruwa & Co, alleging SSANU National of defamation.While we commend the Governing Council for constituting a nine- member Panel to investigate the crisis, we are compelled to observe some fundamental issues which may flaw the entire process and possibly impugn the integrity and reputation of the Governing Council of the University.
The issues are listed as follows:THE TERMS OF REFERENCE The Terms of Reference of the Committee appear fundamentally flawed and diversionary from the main issue. It would appear that the terms of reference are skewed more towards investigating the source of the online reports by the Foundation of Investigative Journalism (FIJ) and Sahara Reporters, rather than the veracity of the allegation of immorality, sexual harassment and victimization alleged against the Vice- Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Fasina. This position is viewed from the fact that of all the seven Terms of Reference, the first three are focused on the sources of the audios, the motives of the recordings, and how the recordings gained currency in the social media. Only one scant reference (TOR 4) was made on investigating the allegations. We see this as an attempt by the crafter(s) of the Terms of Reference to gaslight the public from the core issue to focus on distractions.
THE COMPOSITION The Composition of the Committee is in itself a source of worry, giving reason to doubt that fair hearing would be achieved on this matter.The inclusion of a Deputy Vice Chancellor (Professor Joshua Ogunwole) on the Committee is tantamount to the Vice- Chancellor being on the Committee. By statute, a Deputy Vice- Chancellor is a nominee of the Vice- Chancellor and serves largely at the pleasure of his appointer. Given that the principle of natural justice as represented in the Latin phrase nemo judex in causa sua (no one may be a judge in his own case) and the fact that no Deputy Vice- Chancellor can act independently of the Vice- Chancellor, it is therefore definite that the membership of Professor Ogunwole being a vicarious party to the matter, would taint the outcome of the Panel’s report. We further insist that if for reasons best known to the Council the Deputy Vice- Chancellor remains a member of the Committee, then the National Secretariat of SSANU must be similarly represented on the Committee, to equally ensure that the interests of our member, Engineer Folashade Adebayo, our Branch Chairman, Benjamin Faleye and Secretary, Ayomikun Aluko are commensurately protected.
Considering the fifth Term of Reference in respect of the previous actions of the immediate past Chairman of Council, it is our considered position that no member who served under the immediate past Chairman of Council is competent to partake in that Term of Reference.
Moreso, the members of Council who participated in the “Reconciliation Meeting” facilitated by the immediate past Chairman of Council on 16th September 2024 should be recused from this Committee. Having been parties to that failed “reconciliation meeting between Professor Fasina and Engineer Adebayo, which obviously did not bring resolution to the matter, their participation as panelists to review the actions they partook in would be prejudiced and tainted with bias.
We therefore specifically demand that Mr. Matthew Ngajiozor and Barrister Gowon Maxwell be asked to step aside in order to give credibility to the exercise.In similar vein, the Chairman of Council would recall that his first official assignment/ directive was the suspension of the SSANU Chairman and Secretary over this same issue and the setting up of a Committee to investigate the roles of the two union leaders. The Committee, led by one Mrs. Nike Omoworare, submitted a report which has been countered by a minority report submitted by the SSANU representative on the Committee.
In view of the pendency of the consideration of both majority and minority reports, it would be inauspicious for the members who served on that Committee, having had their modus operandi and findings faulted by SSANU through a Minority Report, to serve on this Committee, which is effectively in continuance of the previous Committee.
Consequently, we demand the stepping down of Mrs. Nike Omoworare, Professor Joshua Ogunwole, Mr. Tope Arogundade and Barrister L. A. Eni who participated in an exercise, the outcome of which has been faulted by SSANU through its representative.
In effect, we wish to state that apart from the Committee Chairperson, Mrs. Ifeoma Ndukwu, Mr. Olusola Taiwo, and Professor Ajiboye Abiodun, all other members of the Committee (six of them) lack the moral and ethical competence to sit on this Committee, as their roles have been technically and vicariously compromised over the matter. We fear that except they are replaced with neutral and previously uninvolved individuals, the outcome of the Committee assignment would be heavily compromised and unjust.
THE VICE- CHANCELLOR’S CONTINUED STAY IN OFFICE
While the Union commends the Council for the courage in excusing the Vice- Chancellor from its meeting of Friday, 24th January 2024, we are still at a loss as to why the Vice- Chancellor has not been suspended over the allegations against him. It smacks of injustice and double standards that the Chairman and Secretary of SSANU were immediately suspended by the Council even before a Panel was constituted to investigate the issue, while the Vice- Chancellor, whose stay in office has a high potentiality of influencing the outcome of the Committee is allowed to continue to superintend over the affairs of the University.
The powers of the Vice- Chancellor include approvals of funds for Council members and operations of Committees (not excluding the one under reference), approvals of release of university venues for meetings, secretariat servicing the meetings among others.
The Vice- Chancellor’s unbridled access to university documents, offices, officials and staff, while the investigations are ongoing, have grave implications on the outcome of the Committee. In fact, to keep the Vice- Chancellor in office unfettered, is the greatest injustice that the Governing Council would be doing on this matter, more especially when our Branch Chairman and Secretary remain suspended.The Chairman of Council is urged to please realise that SSANU has a major stake in this matter.
The career and life of our members, Mrs. Folashade Adebayo is on the line. The careers and livelihoods of our officers, Comrade Benjamin Faleye and Ayomikun Aluko have been threatened because whistleblowing has been criminalized in FUOYE. For the Union, these two officers have acted on our behalf in protecting the interests of our member and blowing the whistle on unhealthy practices at the workplace.
The issues of sexual harassment and victimization are highly sensitive and should be treated with all sense of responsibility by the Council of FUOYE. The University would be best served if this matter is handled with fairness than any attempt to shield or protect the Vice- Chancellor. That our members have been harassed, victimized, threatened and suspended through the instrumentality of a powerful Vice- Chancellor demands that we shall not sit idly by, and allow the Terms of Reference, Composition and modus operandi of the Committee to target the victim(s).
On this matter, the Union has been threatened by a Court action by Professor Abayomi fasina’s lawyers, Ebun- Olu Adegboruwa. We shall therefore be unrelenting and ensure full justice for our members.
Consequently, our prayers/ demands from the FUOYE Council are as follows:To cause a review of the Terms of Reference of the Committee to give sharper focus on the allegations against Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina rather than the shadowboxing and immaterial interrogations into how the recordings were leaked, who leaked it to the Press and other distractive gaslighting questions.
To review the membership and composition of the Committee, causing the removal of the following members whose previous involvements may taint the outcome of this exercise:Professor Joshua Ogunwole, Mr. Matthew Ngajiozor, Barrister Gowon Maxwell. Nike Omoworare Hajia Nafisat Nahuche, Mr. Tope Arogundade, Barrister L. A. Eni.
The above individuals should be replaced with independent, neutral and unbiased individuals who may not necessarily be from FUOYE.
To cause the suspension of Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina as Vice- Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti pending the determination of this matter in the spirit of fairness and natural justice, in the same spirit that led to the decision to suspend the SSANU Chairman and Secretary over this same matter.
Yours faithfully,
Abdussobur Olayiwola Salaam, PhD
National Vice- President & Chairman cc.Honorable Minister of Education
Honorable Minister of Labour and Employment
Honorable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development
Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission
President, Nigeria Labour Congress
National President, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities
