Abuja-based legal practitioner, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has strongly criticised the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) in Ekiti State, for exonerating its Vice Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Fasina, from allegations of sexual harassment without regard for what he called incriminating evidence to the contrary.
In a press statement post on his Facebook page on Wednesday, Olajengbesi described the university’s investigation process as “procedurally reckless” and riddled with “institutional bias.”
The criticism followed a meeting of FUOYE’s Governing Council on April 8, where the institution formally cleared Professor Fasina of any wrongdoing in a case brought against him by a female staff member of the institution, Engr. Folasade Adebayo.
Olajengbesi, expressing deep concern, said the university’s conclusions ignored what he termed “hard-core evidence,” including audio recordings, written exchanges, and public disclosures. “The outright dismissal of the sexual harassment allegations is not only shocking but profoundly troubling,” he stated. “It sends a chilling message… that no matter the gravity of an accusation, if it involves someone in a position of power, it will be ignored and the complainant vilified.”
In the statement, the lawyer highlighted several areas of concern, majorly among them the integrity of the investigative process. He alleged that FUOYE’s reliance on “unverified audio recordings without forensic analysis” undermined the credibility of the university’s findings.
“The investigative procedure casts serious doubt on the credibility of any conclusions drawn,” he argued, describing the methodology as “flawed” and “subverting the search for truth.”
He also criticised what he called a “culture of institutional protectionism,” pointing out that while the complainant was issued a warning, the Vice Chancellor merely received “superficial advice.” This, he said, reflected “an institution more concerned with its reputation than with achieving genuine justice.”
Olajengbesi was particularly critical of the decision to allow Professor Fasina to retain his position throughout the investigation. “As long as the Vice Chancellor retains control of the institution, no one within the University is in any position to impartially investigate such allegations,” he said.
Calling for external intervention, he urged the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to step into the matter. “An investigation conducted by an external, impartial body is essential to restore public faith in the process of justice,” he said, adding that the ICPC should “prosecute those who have allowed misconduct and institutional cover-ups to persist.”
FUOYE was yet to respond publicly to the latest accusations from Barrister Olajengbesi, though the university has previously maintained that it acted within the boundaries of its internal policies and procedures to deal with the matter.
The controversy continues to spark debate on the integrity of institutional investigations in Nigerian higher institutions, particularly where allegations of misconduct against high-ranking officials are involved.
