“A perpetual injunction, restraining the defendants from publishing or circulating any similar or defamatory materials, and N20 million, as the cost of litigation.”
Professor Abayomi Sunday-Fashina, immediate past Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE)
Sexual harassment: FUOYE VC goes to court
Prof. Sunday Fasina, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), has filed a lawsuit against two media houses at an Ekiti State High Court, seeking damages amounting N250 million.
Fasina in a suit No. HAD/58/2025, filed at an Ekiti State High Court, Ado-Ekiti, listed SaharaReporters, the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), and a senior staff of the university, Mrs Folasade Adebayo, as defendants.
Represented by his counsel, T.S. Adegboyega, Esq., the vice-chancellor noted that the defendants maliciously circulated an audio recording, and published accompanying reports that defamed him, and caused him and family substantial reputational damage.
In his statement of claim, Fasina contended that the audio was obtained, and circulated, without his consent, and that its publication, constituted cyberbullying, cyberstalking, defamation and blackmail.
He stated: “The audio recording and related publication by the defendants, contained baseless and malicious allegations of sexual harassment and victimisation, clearly intended to tarnish my reputation.”
According to the suit, the second defendant, the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), allegedly, acting on the instigation of the first defendant (Mrs Adebayo), circulated the recording on Jan. 20, 2025, via its website, www.fij.ng, alleging that Fasina, harassed, and victimised Adebayo.
“One of the exhibits in the case is a report, published by FIJ, on 20 January 2025, titled: “EXCLUSIVE: HOW FUOYE VC Abayomi Fasina, pressed married colleague for sexual relationship against her will (1)”, written by one Sodeeq Atanda, who has also been joined as a defendant,” he stated.
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Fasina also referenced a letter, by Adebayo, dated Sept. 17, 2024, addressed to the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of FUOYE’s Governing Council, in which she wrote: “Of greatest concern to me is the false and damaging allegation that I attempted to seduce the Vice Chancellor.
“This accusation is completely without merit. On the contrary, it was the Vice Chancellor who made multiple inappropriate advances towards me, which I firmly rejected.”
In reply, Fasina submitted a 14-page response, dated September 27, 2024, titled: “Clarifications on the Complaints from Mrs Folasade Adebayo: Expression of Gratitude and Records of Grievances”, in which he denied all allegations, and provided his account of events.
He further asserted that an internal investigation, conducted by FUOYE’s Governing Council and its relevant committees, cleared him of any wrongdoing.
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