FUOYE Staff, Students Foil Alleged Police Attempt to Arrest Vice-Chancellor

Staff and students of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Ekiti State, gathered at the residence of Vice-Chancellor Professor Joshua Ogunwole on Wednesday after he raised an alarm over an alleged attempt by police officers to arrest him. The incident has added to an ongoing dispute surrounding the university administration.

Ogunwole told journalists at his residence in Ado-Ekiti that the police arrived at about 3 a.m., shortly after he had gone to bed. He said his children noticed security personnel around the residence and alerted him, prompting him to raise an alarm.

According to the vice-chancellor, members of the university community, including academic and non-academic staff and students, subsequently arrived at the residence and opposed what they believed was an attempt to take him away. He said he initially refused to come outside because he was unsure whether the men were genuine police officers.

Ogunwole said the police team later told him they had a warrant but he wanted to first understand the reason for the proposed arrest. He said his lawyers were subsequently instructed to contact the police and explain that the matter was already before a court and that he remained available to respond to any lawful invitation.

The vice-chancellor linked the development to a petition allegedly filed by individuals connected with the university, including former Vice-Chancellor Abayomi Fasina and former Faculty of Law Dean Kehinde Adeola. He said the dispute followed an audio recording that allegedly leaked and led the university management to invite those involved before an investigative committee.

Ogunwole said he had previously honoured a police invitation over an earlier petition, appearing with his lawyers and answering questions before being released on self-recognisance. He argued that the latest situation could also have been handled through a formal invitation rather than surrounding his residence.

FUOYE Director of Public Affairs and Communication, Sunday Saanu, described the alleged police action as mischievous. He said Ogunwole had already honoured an earlier invitation and had instructed his lawyers to represent him in the matter. The university’s Academic Staff Union of Universities branch chairman, Ojo Fagbuagun, also said the union was at the residence to oppose what he described as an attempt to intimidate the vice-chancellor.

The Ekiti State Police Command spokesperson, Sunday Abutu, was contacted by Premium Times but had not responded as of the report. The police account of why officers were at the vice-chancellor’s residence therefore remained unavailable in the reports reviewed. Ogunwole said he remained confident in the rule of law and would continue with his plans for the university.