FUOYE: Students, Staff Protest Alleged VC, Council Chairman's Romance Of Corruption

Dust seems far from settling at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti as students and youth leaders across Ekiti State in large numbers abandoned academic and other daily duties earlier today to further express their grievances in a peaceful protest within the campus.

The protest followed an earlier notice by the leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ekiti State Chapter, calling on all youth and students in Ekiti State to join its peaceful protest slated for today Monday 3rd November, 2025 after declaring a State of Emergency on what they perceived as an administrative injustice, impunity and a “toxic alliance” between the Chairman of the Institution's Governing Council, Senator Ndoma-Egba and the Vice-Chancellor of the school, Prof. Abayomi Fasina.

The NYCN had earlier in a multiple petition to President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Education, several anti graft agencies, security agencies, and other relevant bodies, lamented the high level of moral decay and outright disregard for the rule of law by FUOYE's Vice-Chancellor and the Council Chairman.

Several placards with captions such as “enough of corruption in FUOYE; Moral decay under Prof. Abayomi Fasina is killing our morale; VC Fasina has become a Professor of Injustice; Marriage of Prof. Abayomi Fasina and Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba is destroying FUOYE's academic excellence; Tinubu, suspend FUOYE VC, Prof. Abayomi Fasina now; Remove Council Chairman, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba; Tinubu, Investigate sexual scandals and punish offenders; Suspend ongoing manipulated VC selection process in FUOYE now” among others were displayed by the protesters.

Expressing concerns at the protest which was joined by members and leadership of the Association of Southern Nigeria Youth Congress (ASNYC), Ekiti State Chapter, the NYCN Chairman, Amb. James Bankole, described the situation as a “monumental crisis threatening to destroy FUOYE.”

He noted that the “calculated conspiracy of corruption, financial recklessness, and moral decay orchestrated by the Governing Council Chairman, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), and the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina” has necessitated tagging the governance decay at FUOYE as “an emergency that directly undermines the future of Nigerian youth.”

The NYCN Chairman said that the Governing Council has been “weaponized for self-enrichment and impunity. 

“This is not governance; it is a brazen financial scavenging operation.

“The Council Chairman has consistently defied Ministerial directives by relocating all Council meetings and the entire ongoing Vice Chancellorship selection process to Abuja. 

“This calculated act constitutes gross misuse of public funds, wasting millions of Naira on frivolous travel, hotels, and allowances, while the university struggles to fund critical accreditation and pay earned staff allowances.

“This is financial sabotage against the Nigerian state.”

Amb. James Bankole challenged the legitimacy of the ₦128 million “research leave” approved for the outgoing VC, a move he described as “unheard of in academic history.”

He also questioned the ₦700 million property acquisitions sanctioned under dubious circumstances at grossly inflated costs, noting that the Council has transformed the university into a "feeding trough" at the expense of students and staff.

According to Amb. Bankole, the NYCN rejects the current Vice Chancellorship appointment process. 

He said “the timetable, which outrageously compresses the evaluation of over 100 applicants into just two days, is a deliberate and unlawful manipulation designed to achieve a predetermined outcome and install a successor who will perpetuate the corrupt cabal.

“This rushed process is a mockery of transparency and an insult to the principles of meritocracy.”

He frowned at what he called “the institutionalisation of sexual exploitation and abuse” within FUOYE. 

He stated that “the Council, led by Senator Ndoma-Egba, has actively obstructed justice and protected perpetrators.

“The NYCN views this as a direct threat to the safety and educational stability of the Nigerian youth.

“We are deeply troubled by the sexual harassment allegations levelled by Engr. Folashade Adebayo against the Vice Chancellor, a case that was immediately and deliberately suppressed by the Council Chairman to avoid embarrassment.”

“We cite the distressing case of Dr. Agbegbedia (Peace and Conflict Studies), a VC mentee who deliberately failed a female student for refusing his sexual demands. 

“Despite an external panel passing the student, the VC shielded and promoted the perpetrator, rewarding abuse.

“We demand justice for the victims of Dr. Segun Larayetan (English and Literary Studies), who stands accused of rape, sexual exploitation, and subsequent intimidation, using his position to stop a female student from graduating to continue exploiting her.

“The moral and psychological toll on students and staff, particularly women, is immense. 

“The fact that the VC, whose moral standing is grievously damaged, continues to preside over the appointment of his successor is a mockery of decency and governance.

“We, the representatives of Nigerian youth, cannot stand idly by while our academic institutions are destroyed and our students are left vulnerable.

“We hereby announce that the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Ekiti Chapter, and the Association of Southern Nigeria Youth Congress have decided to immediately relocate our headquarters to the FUOYE Main Campus starting today, Monday, November 3, 2025. 

“We call upon all Nigerian students, youth groups, and concerned citizens to join us in a massive and suffocating mass peace protest on the campus.

“We will not leave until every single demand is met.”

The demands of the Youth body from President Tinubu and relevant stakeholders include:

1. Immediate suspension of Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina pending investigation.

2. Constitution of an independent, non-partisan panel to urgently revisit and investigate all outstanding sexual harassment and abuse cases, specifically those involving Dr Agbegbedia and Dr Larayetan, and mandate recommendations for justice and prosecution.

3. Immediate removal of Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) as Pro-Chancellor and Council Chairman for corruption, fraud, and insubordination.

4. Suspension of all current Council activities related to the Vice Chancellorship process.

5. Constitution of a neutral interim governing council to oversee the transition and restore stability.

6. A comprehensive forensic audit of FUOYE’s finances, property acquisitions, and Council expenditure since 2021.

7. Restoration of lawful governance on campus, with all Council activities returned to FUOYE immediately.

8. Legal protection for all whistleblowers and union leaders exposing corruption.