VC goes to court over sex scandal reports

Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, FUOYE, has filed a N250 million lawsuit at the Ekiti State High Court in Ado-Ekiti over reports alleging sexual harassment.

He is suing two prominent media organisations—SaharaReporters and the Foundation for Investigative Journalism —as well as a university staff member, Mrs. Folasade Adebayo, over what he described as false and damaging publications.

Fasina, through his lawyer T.S. Adegboyega, accused the defendants of maliciously publishing and circulating an audio recording alongside news reports that, he claims, defamed his character and subjected him to intense reputational harm.

The VC said the audio was distributed without his consent and described its content as baseless and defamatory, amounting to cyberbullying and blackmail.

According to Fasina, FIJ published a report on January 20, 2025, alleging he sexually harassed and victimised Adebayo. The report was titled: “EXCLUSIVE: HOW FUOYE VC Abayomi Fasina, pressed married colleague for sexual relationship against her will (1),” and was written by Sodeeq Atanda, who is also named in the suit.

Fasina referenced a letter written by Adebayo to the FUOYE Governing Council in September 2024, accusing him of making unwanted advances.

In response, Fasina submitted a 14-page rebuttal, maintaining his innocence and presenting his version of events. He also cited a report by FUOYE’s Governing Council, dated April 2025, which he said exonerated him after an internal investigation.

READ ALSO: FUOYE exonerates VC, demands apology from accuser

He added that a separate inquiry by the Nigeria Police Force, following a petition by a civil society group, Peace Initiatives, had similarly cleared him of all allegations, including sexual harassment, abuse of office, and intimidation.

Despite this, SaharaReporters published another article in November 2024, linking Fasina to fresh petitions by a university union calling for a ministerial probe. The Vice-Chancellor said these continued publications had prompted an overwhelming reaction from colleagues, family, and associates, both locally and internationally.

He argued in court that the reports damaged his standing as an academic, public official, and Christian leader, by suggesting he was guilty of misconduct and moral failure.

Fasina is seeking a judicial declaration that the publications amount to slander and cybercrimes, as well as aggravated damages of N250 million.

He is also asking the court to compel the defendants to issue public apologies across national newspapers and digital platforms, and to impose a perpetual injunction barring any further defamatory material from being published.

NAN