Arrest of FUOYE Staff’s Brother Linked to VC’s Sexual Harassment Case

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday arrested Agbeleoba Samuel Oyeyemi, in connection with the sexual harassment allegations against Abayomi Sunday Fasina, a professor of pedology and vice chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE).

Oyeyemi is the younger brother of Folasade Adebayo, a university staff member who accused Fasina of sexual harassment and intimidation. Despite these allegations, a panel set up by the university’s governing council has been investigating Fasina without suspending him from office.

Oyeyemi was released on Thursday around 7 p.m. Following his release, Kayode Babatuyi, chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ekiti State, confirmed that the arrest was linked to the ongoing sexual misconduct case at FUOYE.

“When we met with the DSS director, Godwin Eze, he claimed that Oyeyemi was chatting in a WhatsApp group, falsely identifying himself as a DSS official. They considered this impersonation, searched his house, and found nothing incriminating. He has now been released,” Babatuyi said.

Before Oyeyemi’s release, Eze reportedly told journalists at a press conference that Oyeyemi had been accused of cyberbullying some FUOYE staff members via a WhatsApp platform.

“During our investigation, we found that the arrest was connected to the ongoing sexual harassment saga involving the vice chancellor of the university, Professor Abayomi Fasina,” Babatuyi said.

He described the arrest as an attempt to silence critics of Fasina’s alleged misconduct, calling on the university authorities to ensure Oyeyemi’s freedom.

“This is Nigeria; we cannot turn our country into a lawless society. People must be allowed to speak. Hiding under claims of cyberbullying to silence people will not be tolerated,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Mufutau Ibrahim, the university’s registrar, denied any involvement by the school, dismissing claims that Fasina ordered the arrest.

“The assertion that the vice chancellor ordered Agbeleoba’s arrest is pure falsehood,” Ibrahim said. He also insisted that the allegations of sexual harassment were baseless, urging the public to disregard the reports.

However, some university staff fear that others who have spoken out against Fasina’s alleged misconduct could also be targeted.

“I heard that Fasina plans to arrest everyone who has spoken on the issue. Some of us should be prepared for what Oyeyemi went through,” a staff member, who requested anonymity for fear of victimization, said on Friday.