SOME staff and students of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) on Wednesday foiled an attempt by police officers to arrest the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, at his residence in Ado-Ekiti.
News Point Nigeria reports that the Vice-Chancellor had raised an alarm that policemen had surrounded his residence in Ado-Ekiti, saying their mission was unclear.
The development drew members of the university community, including academic and non-academic staff and students, to the Vice-Chancellor’s residence, where they gathered in solidarity and opposed the alleged arrest.
Speaking to journalists at his residence in Ado-Ekiti, Ogunwole said the policemen arrived at his official residence around 6:10am, shortly after he had gone to bed at about 3am, adding that his children woke him up after noticing the security personnel around the house.
The Vice-Chancellor said he initially declined to come out because he was unsure whether the men were genuine police officers and wanted to establish the reason for their presence.
He added that the police team later told him that they had a warrant, but he insisted that he would not leave the house without first being properly informed of the basis of the arrest.
Ogunwole linked the development to a petition allegedly written by some individuals connected with the university, including the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, and a former Dean of the Faculty of Law, Dr. Kehinde Adeola.
He said the dispute arose from an audio recording which he alleged had leaked, prompting the university management to ask those involved to appear before an investigative committee to explain its contents.
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, saying he appeared with his lawyers and was questioned from morning till evening before being released on self-recognisance.
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.
He said, “There is no turning back. Our mission to create a new face for FUOYE. No U-turn, no diversion. We are resolute.”
Also speaking, the FUOYE branch chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Ojo Fagbuagun, said the union was at the residence to oppose what he described as attempts to intimidate the Vice-Chancellor.
Fagbuagun alleged that some individuals who had been entrenched in the university’s previous administration were opposed to changes being introduced by Ogunwole.
He accused unnamed individuals of alleged irregularities, including “illegal promotion, abnormal promotion, mismanagement of funds” and other forms of misconduct, but did not provide evidence for the allegations during the interview.
He also accused the former Vice-Chancellor, Fasina, of using police petitions instead of internal mechanisms for resolving disputes within the university.
Fagbuagun said the academic staff would resist what he described as further attempts to harass or intimidate the Vice-Chancellor.
“We are here this morning to show the whole world that our VC cannot be intimidated,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), FUOYE branch, Comrade Oluwashola Babafemi, said members of the association were at the residence to protect what he described as the peace and progress being experienced under the present administration.
Babafemi said Ogunwole had made himself accessible to staff and had paid attention to their welfare, adding that the association did not want anything capable of disrupting the university’s current direction.
The branch secretary of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), Comrade Emmanuel Adegun, said members were alerted that police officers had arrived at the Vice-Chancellor’s residence and might attempt to take him away.
Adegun said the union decided to mobilise to the residence to show solidarity with Ogunwole.
A non-teaching staff member, Victoria Adeyoju, also called for an end to what she described as attempts to intimidate the Vice-Chancellor, saying staff wanted peace and good governance in the university.