Civil society organisations, under the auspices of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, have demanded the investigation of the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), Professor Abayomi Fasina, over his alleged sexual harassment of a married subordinate of the university.
The CSOs made their demand through a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and copied to the Minister of Education, Minister for Justice, Minister for Women Affairs and Social Development, Inspector General of Police, some committees in the National Assembly, National Human Rights Commission, and National Universities Commission.
The coalition based its claims on an exclusive investigative report published by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) on January 20, 2025, which detailed the allegations of sexual harassment levelled against the vice-chancellor.
According to the statement released by the CSOs, the vice-chancellor was allegedly captured in audio recordings “coercing” Mrs Folasade Adebayo, the Deputy Director at the Directorate of Works and Services of the university, in an “illicit sexual relationship” against her will.
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The coalition stated the case “represents a gross abuse of authority, contravention of institutional ethics, and a flagrant violation of Nigeria’s legal frameworks on workplace harassment and gender-based violence.”
The coalition further stated that the petition against Professor Fasina seeks to bring attention to the following points for urgent action: the background and overview of the case, legal and institutional implications, and concerns regarding institutional accountability.
According to the letter, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations are demanding independent investigation by relevant authorities, protection of the victim, institutional accountability and systemic reforms, and legislative oversight and advocacy.
The coalition stated that “This case serves as a litmus test for Nigeria’s commitment to eradicating power-centred gender-based violence and fostering a culture of accountability in public institutions.”
The CSOs who signed the petition against the vice-chancellor are Gender Mobile Initiative, Baobab for Women’s Human Rights, Balm in Gilead Foundation for Sustainable Development, Hope Behind Bars Africa, The New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative (NIGAWD), Community Women’s Rights Foundation, Gender Relevance Initiative Promotion, Education as A Vaccine, Shehu Musa Yar’adua Foundation, Braveheart Initiative, Huwaila Muhammed Ibrahim, and Speakout Africa Initiative.
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