Fresh controversy has erupted at the Federal University Oye‑Ekiti (FUOYE) as the suspended Deputy Dean of Student Affairs, Dr Banji Olaleye, insists his suspension over alleged extortion was a pre‑planned move orchestrated long before any investigation began.
ValidViewNetwork reports that Olaleye, who was suspended alongside the Director of Entrepreneurship, Olanrewaju Ogunjobi, and the Students’ Union Government President, James Adio, claims the university’s current administration had been seeking his removal since February.
The university, however, has dismissed his allegations, describing them as “false” and “blackmail.”
Olaleye: “They never wanted to work with me”
In an interview with Punch newspaper, Olaleye alleged that the administration made it clear from inception that it did not want him in office, claiming he was perceived as not supporting the emergence of the incumbent Vice‑Chancellor.
He said: “Since then, the present administration has always told people that it doesn’t want to have anything to do with me because it feels I did not support its emergence. I am not a kingmaker. I don’t put somebody there as the VC.”
Olaleye explained that he was already expecting to exit office at the end of July when the tenure of political appointees was due to expire, insisting that the extortion controversy arose from a dispute between the Directorate of Entrepreneurship and the Dean of Student Affairs over practical sessions for students.
He maintained that he had no official role in the entrepreneurship programme and only intervened after the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof Temitope Babalola, asked him to help resolve tensions between the directorate and student leaders.
How the N1,000 collection unfolded
Olaleye said the Director of Entrepreneurship told him the N1,000 fee was collected because funds for practical sessions were not released on time by management. He said he was asked to help ensure class representatives remitted the money already collected.
ValidViewNetwork reports that Olaleye directed student leaders to recover outstanding funds, resulting in N2.5 million being retrieved.
He said the Director of Entrepreneurship later instructed that N1 million be given to student representatives as appreciation, while N1.5 million was to be transferred to a designated account.
Olaleye insisted he only conveyed the directorate’s resolution and ensured the money was remitted.
He added that the investigative panel initially questioned claims that students received only N35,000 instead of N1 million but later confirmed the full amount was paid.
“Eventually, they confirmed that the students got the N1 million.”
Despite this, he said he was suspended on June 10, even before the investigation concluded.
Claims of bias and exclusion
Olaleye alleged that staff members who directly handled the funds were not invited for questioning, arguing that the disciplinary process was flawed.
He also faulted the university for announcing his suspension while the investigation was ongoing, saying it subjected him to public ridicule.
“My name circulated over something they had not been able to investigate.”
He said he responded to a query issued five days after his suspension, appealed the decision, and petitioned the Governing Council Chairman.
The reinstatement of the SUG president, he said, raised further questions about the fairness of the sanctions.
Senior official: “The panel misled the system”
A senior management official, who spoke anonymously reportedly asserted that the panel misled the university.
“It’s like telling somebody’s enemy to be the judge in the case. So definitely, they will mislead the system.”
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The official insisted Olaleye’s office only intervened in the crisis and had previously advised the directorate to seek alternative funding.
FUOYE: “The evidence was overwhelming”
Reacting, the university’s spokesperson, Dr Sunday Saanu, dismissed Olaleye’s claims, insisting the suspension was strictly based on FUOYE’s anti‑extortion policy.
He said the policy was endorsed by the Senate and strengthened by the Governing Council, which approved dismissal for any lecturer found guilty of extortion.
Saanu said a prima facie case was established against Olaleye before disciplinary action was taken.
“The evidence against him was overwhelming. The committee established that he was culpable. It found that he directed that money be collected from students.”
He rejected claims of political victimisation, saying: “Many people did not support the Vice‑Chancellor, so that allegation does not hold.”
ValidViewNetwork reports that the university insists its actions were guided by policy, not politics.
The FUOYE extortion saga has now evolved into a battle of narratives with one alleging targeted removal and administrative bias, the other insisting on strict enforcement of anti‑extortion rules. As investigations continue and tensions rise, stakeholders await clarity on whether this controversy reflects a deeper institutional rift or a firm stand against misconduct.
