Staff and students of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Ekiti State, on Wednesday prevented an alleged police attempt to arrest the Vice-Chancellor, Joshua Ogunwole.
Mr Ogunwole, a professor, addressed journalists at his residence in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
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He said police officers arrived at his official residence shortly after he went to bed at about 3 a.m., adding that his children woke him after noticing security personnel around the house.
The VC further said he raised an alarm that his residence had been surrounded, drawing the attention of members of the university community, including academic and non-academic staff and students, who gathered in solidarity with him and resisted the alleged arrest.
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Mr Ogunwole said he initially declined to come out because he was unsure whether the men were genuine police officers and wanted to know why they were there.
He added that the police team later told him they had a warrant, but he insisted he would not leave the house without first being properly informed of the basis for the arrest.
Mr Ogunwole linked the development to a petition allegedly written by some individuals connected with the university, including the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Abayomi Fasina, and a former Dean of the Faculty of Law, Kehinde Adeola.
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He said the dispute arose from an audio recording he alleged had leaked, prompting university management to ask those involved to appear before an investigative committee to explain its content.
According to him, the matter had subsequently gone to court, while he had also petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over what he described as threats to his life and workplace.
The vice chancellor said he had instructed his lawyers to approach the police to explain that the matter was already before the court and that he was available to respond to any lawful invitation.
He recalled that he had previously honoured a police invitation in connection with an earlier petition, adding that he appeared with his lawyers and was questioned from morning till evening before being released on self-recognisance.
Mr Ogunwole said he believed that the latest development could have been handled through an invitation rather than surrounding his residence.
“Somebody of my calibre would not run away anywhere. Rather than surrounding my house, there are other better approaches to invite me,” he said.
The vice-chancellor, however, said he remained confident in the rule of law and would continue with his administration’s plans to reposition the university.
When contacted by PREMIUM TIMES on the phone, the spokesperson for the Ekiti State Police Command, Sunday Abutu, promised to call back to speak on the matter. He had not done so as of this report.
Meanwhile, while reacting to the development, FUOYE’s Director of Public Affairs and Communication, Sunday Saanu, described the police action as mischievous, saying Mr Ogunwole had earlier honoured the police invitation, “on account of a spurious petition written by some elements in the system.”
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He added, “Thereafter, the Vice-Chancellor instructed his lawyers to represent him. It was therefore shocking to see the police in the Vice-Chancellor’s residence, saying they needed him.
“While addressing the workers on Wednesday, the Vice-Chancellor said his administration would not be distracted by the noise in the marketplace.”
Mr Saanu quoted the VC as saying, “This is a passing phase. FUOYE will rise beyond the current resistance of the forces of darkness.”
Also speaking, the FUOYE branch chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ojo Fagbuagun, said the union was at the residence to oppose what he described as attempts to intimidate the vice-chancellor.
Mr Fagbuagun alleged that some individuals entrenched in the university’s previous administration opposed changes being introduced by Mr Ogunwole.
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