By Our Correspondent
Civil society organizations, including BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights, have demanded justice and accountability in the sexual harassment allegations against Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE).
The allegations involve Engineer Folasade Adebayo, a married Deputy Director at the Directorate of Works and Services, who accused the Vice-Chancellor of coercing her into an illicit sexual relationship.
In a petition addressed to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the groups called for an independent investigation into the case, citing evidence from audio recordings reportedly capturing the Vice-Chancellor’s coercive advances.
The petition criticized the Governing Council’s investigative panel for focusing on the victim’s motives for recording the conversations rather than addressing the Vice-Chancellor’s alleged misconduct.
The organizations argued that Professor Fasina’s actions represent a gross abuse of power and a violation of Nigeria’s Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP), Act, 2015, which criminalizes sexual harassment and abuse of authority.
They further accused FUOYE of fostering a culture of institutional complacency in handling past sexual harassment cases.
The petitioners demanded adequate protection for the victim, legal action against the Vice-Chancellor, and systemic reforms to prevent similar incidents in Nigerian universities.
They also urged the Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and legislative committees to ensure justice and accountability in the matter.
“This case is a test of Nigeria’s commitment to eradicating gender-based violence and ensuring institutional integrity,” the groups emphasized, calling for swift action to uphold the rule of law.