FUOYE Staff, Students Foil Attempt to Arrest Vice-Chancellor

Staff and students of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) on Wednesday mobilised to the residence of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, after he raised the alarm over an alleged attempt by police officers to arrest him at his residence in Ado-Ekiti.

The development drew members of the university community, including academic and non-academic staff as well as students, to the Vice-Chancellor’s residence, where they expressed solidarity with him and opposed the alleged arrest.

Speaking to journalists at his residence, Ogunwole said the policemen arrived at about 6:10 a.m., shortly after he had gone to bed around 3 a.m. He said his children woke him after noticing security personnel around the house.

The Vice-Chancellor said he initially refused to come out because he was uncertain whether the men were genuine police officers and wanted to establish the reason for their presence.

According to him, the police team later informed him that they had a warrant, but he insisted that he would not leave the residence without first being properly informed of the basis for the arrest.

Ogunwole linked the development to a petition allegedly filed by individuals connected with the university, including the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, and a former Dean of the Faculty of Law, Dr Kehinde Adeola.

He said the dispute stemmed from an audio recording which he alleged had been leaked, prompting the university management to invite those involved to appear before an investigative committee to explain its contents.

According to Ogunwole, the matter subsequently became the subject of court proceedings, while he also petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over what he described as threats to his life and workplace.

The Vice-Chancellor said he had instructed his lawyers to approach the police and explain that the matter was already before the court, adding that he remained available to respond to any lawful invitation.

He recalled that he had previously honoured a police invitation in connection with an earlier petition, appearing with his lawyers and answering questions from morning until evening before being released on self-recognition.

Ogunwole said he believed the latest development could have been handled through an invitation rather than by surrounding his residence.

“Somebody of my calibre would not run away anywhere. Rather than surrounding my house, there are other better approaches to invite me,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor, however, expressed confidence in the rule of law and said he would continue with his administration’s plans to reposition the university.

“There is no turning back. Our mission to create a new face for FUOYE is standing sure. No U-turn, no diversion. We are resolute,” he said.

Also speaking, the FUOYE branch chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr Ojo Fagbuagun, said the union was at the residence to oppose what he described as attempts to intimidate the Vice-Chancellor.

Fagbuagun alleged that some individuals who had been influential during the university’s previous administration were opposed to changes being introduced by Ogunwole.

He alleged that some individuals were involved in irregularities including “illegal promotion, abnormal promotion, mismanagement of funds” and other forms of misconduct, but did not provide evidence for the allegations during the interview.

He also accused the former Vice-Chancellor, Fasina, of resorting to police petitions rather than internal mechanisms to resolve disputes within the university.

Fagbuagun said academic staff would resist what he described as further attempts to harass or intimidate the Vice-Chancellor.

“We are here this morning to show the whole world that our VC cannot be intimidated,” he said.

The Chairman of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), FUOYE branch, Comrade Oluwashola Babafemi, said members of the association were at the residence to protect what he described as the peace and progress being experienced under the present administration.

Babafemi said Ogunwole had made himself accessible to staff and paid attention to their welfare, adding that the association did not want anything capable of disrupting the university’s current direction.

The branch secretary of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), Comrade Emmanuel Adegun, said members were alerted that police officers had arrived at the Vice-Chancellor’s residence and might attempt to take him away.

Adegun said the union consequently mobilised to the residence to show solidarity with Ogunwole.

A non-teaching staff member, Victoria Adeyoju, also called for an end to what she described as attempts to intimidate the Vice-Chancellor, saying staff wanted peace and good governance in the university.