FUOYE Community Foils Dawn Police Bid to Arrest VC Ogunwole

Tension gripped Ado-Ekiti in the early hours of Wednesday when staff and students of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) mobilised in large numbers to the official residence of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole, successfully preventing what they described as an attempt by policemen to arrest him.

According to accounts from the university community, officers arrived at the Vice-Chancellor’s residence around 6:10am, shortly after Ogunwole had retired to bed at about 3am. His children alerted him to the presence of security personnel surrounding the house. The Vice-Chancellor raised the alarm, prompting academic and non-academic staff as well as students to converge on the premises in solidarity.

Speaking to journalists at the residence, Ogunwole said he initially refused to come out. “I was unsure whether the men were genuine police officers and wanted to establish the reason for their presence,” he explained. The officers later informed him they had a warrant, but he insisted he would not leave without being properly briefed on the basis of the proposed arrest.

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The Vice-Chancellor linked the incident to a petition allegedly filed by individuals connected with the university, including his immediate predecessor, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, and a former Dean of the Faculty of Law, Dr Kehinde Adeola. He said the dispute stemmed from a leaked audio recording that prompted the university management to invite those involved to appear before an investigative committee. The matter subsequently moved to court.

Ogunwole added that he had separately petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over what he described as threats to his life and workplace.

He noted that his lawyers had contacted the police to clarify that the matter was already before the courts and that he remained available for any lawful invitation. The Vice-Chancellor recalled that he had previously honoured a police invitation in connection with an earlier petition, appearing with his lawyers and answering questions from morning until evening before being released on self-recognisance.
“Somebody of my calibre would not run away anywhere. Rather than surrounding my house, there are other better approaches to invite me,” Ogunwole said. He expressed confidence in the rule of law and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to reforming the institution. “There is no turning back. Our mission is to create a new face for FUOYE. No U-turn, no diversion. We are resolute.”

University unions strongly backed the Vice-Chancellor. Dr Ojo Fagbuagun, Chairman of the FUOYE branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), said members gathered to resist what he called attempts to intimidate Ogunwole. He alleged that individuals entrenched in the previous administration opposed reforms being introduced under the current leadership, citing claims of “illegal promotion, abnormal promotion, mismanagement of funds” and other irregularities, though he offered no evidence during the interview. Fagbuagun further accused the former Vice-Chancellor of resorting to police petitions rather than internal dispute-resolution mechanisms.

“We are here this morning to show the whole world that our VC cannot be intimidated,” he declared.

Comrade Oluwashola Babafemi, Chairman of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), FUOYE branch, said members came to safeguard the peace and progress under the present administration. He praised Ogunwole for remaining accessible to staff and prioritising their welfare. Comrade Emmanuel Adegun, Branch Secretary of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), said the union mobilised after receiving alerts that officers might attempt to take the Vice-Chancellor away.

A non-teaching staff member, Victoria Adeyoju, called for an end to alleged intimidation, insisting staff wanted peace and good governance.

Later in the day, staff proceeded to the Ekiti State Police Command to register their concerns. They were informed that the Commissioner of Police was unavailable at the time. Addressing a large gathering of workers at the university, Ogunwole thanked them for their mature and peaceful response. He described the episode as a “passing phase” and urged the community not to be distracted from efforts to reposition FUOYE, stating that some people wanted the institution in the news for negative reasons.

The university’s Director of Public Affairs and Communication, Dr Sunday Saanu, described the police action as mischievous, noting that Ogunwole had earlier honoured a police invitation over what he termed a “spurious petition.” When contacted by reporters, the spokesperson for the Ekiti State Police Command, Sunday Abutu, promised to respond but had not done so as of the latest reports.

The incident adds to a series of internal tensions at FUOYE. In August, the university management had to debunk false social-media claims that Ogunwole had been arrested in Abuja after serving as INEC Chief Returning Officer for the Osun State governorship election.

A separate leaked audio involving the former Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Fasina, had earlier circulated, in which he was reported to have discussed strategies concerning his successor. The current dispute centres on another audio recording and related petitions that are now the subject of both internal processes and court proceedings.

As of Wednesday evening, no formal charges against Ogunwole had been publicly detailed by the police, and the Vice-Chancellor remained at liberty. University unions and management have vowed that the administration’s reform agenda will continue uninterrupted.