Tension was reported in Ado-Ekiti in the early hours of Wednesday after staff and students of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), mobilised to the residence of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, following reports that police officers had arrived to arrest him.
Ogunwole had raised the alarm after policemen reportedly surrounded his official residence in Ado-Ekiti, prompting members of the university community, including academic and non-academic staff and students, to gather at the premises.
Speaking to journalists at his residence, Ogunwole said the officers arrived at about 6.10am, shortly after he had gone to bed at around 3am.
He said his children alerted him after noticing security personnel around the residence.
The Vice-Chancellor said he initially declined to come out because he was unsure whether the men were genuine police officers and wanted clarification about the reason for their presence.
According to him, the officers later informed him that they had a warrant, but he insisted that he would not leave the residence without being told the basis for the proposed 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 that had allegedly been leaked and which led the university management to invite those concerned to appear before an investigative committee.
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.
He said he had instructed his lawyers to contact the police and explain that the matter was already before the court and that he remained available to respond to any lawful invitation.
Ogunwole recalled that he had previously honoured a police invitation over an earlier petition, appearing with his lawyers and answering questions from morning until evening before being released on self-recognisance.
He questioned why the latest matter could not have been handled through a formal 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 said he remained confident in the rule of law and would continue to pursue his administration’s plans to reposition the university.
“There is no turning back. Our mission to create a new face for FUOYE. No U-turn, no diversion. We are resolute,” he said.
The FUOYE branch chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr Ojo Fagbuagun, said the union members had gathered at the residence to oppose what he described as attempts to intimidate the Vice-Chancellor.
Fagbuagun alleged that some individuals associated with the previous administration were opposed to changes being introduced by Ogunwole.
He also made allegations of irregularities, including “illegal promotion, abnormal promotion, mismanagement of funds” and other forms of misconduct, but did not provide evidence to substantiate the claims during the interview.
The ASUU chairman 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 FUOYE branch chairman of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Comrade Oluwashola Babafemi, said members of the association had also gathered at the residence to protect what he described as the peace and progress of the university.
Babafemi said Ogunwole had remained accessible to staff and had focused on their welfare, adding that the association did not want any development 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 take him away.
He said the union subsequently mobilised to the residence to express solidarity with Ogunwole.
Another non-teaching staff member, Victoria Adeyoju, called for an end to what she described as attempts to intimidate the Vice-Chancellor, saying staff wanted peace and good governance at the university.
