By Erewunmi Peace

A fresh controversy has erupted at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) after SaharaReporters published a report alleging that a group of suspected “hired” students attacked staff during a meeting and that the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, who was described in some reports as “suspended,” was implicated.

SaharaReporters said it obtained a video in which several staff members said they were attacked by individuals they did not recognize as FUOYE students. The outlet quoted witnesses who claimed the alleged assailants were brought in to intimidate staff who questioned the meeting.

FUOYE’s management has strongly denied the allegations, calling the report “scandalous lies” and demanding a public retraction and apology. In a series of press releases posted on the university website, FUOYE said the Vice-Chancellor was on approved annual/research leave (and recently resumed duty), not under suspension, and described the SaharaReporters account as misinformation.

Attempts to independently corroborate the claims of hired attackers were not immediately successful. Major national newspapers reporting on the university crisis have noted the allegations but also highlighted FUOYE’s rejection of the story and the absence of independent evidence publicly available so far.

We have contacted SaharaReporters requesting the original video and metadata and have sought comment from FUOYE’s Registrar and the Vice-Chancellor’s office. We will update this story if either side provides evidence or further comment.

Prof. Fasina previously proceeded on a six-month accumulated research/annual leave approved by the university council earlier in 2025; reports and statements around his status have been a recurring flashpoint in the campus’s recent public exchanges.