FUOYE staff, students resist police arrest of VC

By Boye Oyeyemi

Tension erupted in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday after staff and students of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, mobilised at the residence of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, following an attempt by policemen to arrest him.

The policemen reportedly arrived at Ogunwole’s official residence at about 6:10 a.m., shortly after he had gone to bed, prompting his children to alert him to the presence of security personnel around the house.

Ogunwole told journalists that he initially refused to come out because he was uncertain about the identity of the men and the reason for their presence, adding that the officers later informed him that they had a warrant.

He said he insisted on knowing the basis of the arrest and linked the development to a petition allegedly filed by some persons connected with the university, including his predecessor, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, and a former Dean of the Faculty of Law, Dr. Kehinde Adeola.

According to the vice-chancellor, the dispute followed an audio recording that allegedly leaked and prompted the university management to invite those involved before an investigative committee, while the matter is now before the court.

Ogunwole said he had also petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, over alleged threats to his life and workplace, noting that he previously honoured a police invitation over another petition and was questioned for several hours in the presence of his lawyers before being released on self-recognisance.

The FUOYE ASUU chairman, Dr. Ojo Fagbuagun, said union members mobilised to resist what he described as intimidation, while the NAAT chairman, Comrade Oluwashola Babafemi, and NASU Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Adegun, said their members joined the protest to protect the university’s peace and support the administration.

Ogunwole, who said the latest matter could have been handled through a formal invitation, vowed to continue with his reform agenda, saying, “There is no turning back; our mission is to create a new face for FUOYE.”