Tension briefly rose at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) after policemen reportedly arrived at the official residence of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, in the early hours of Thursday.
The development prompted academic and non-academic staff as well as students to gather at the residence after Ogunwole raised concerns about the presence of the security personnel.
Speaking with journalists, the Vice-Chancellor said the policemen arrived around 6:10am, shortly after he had gone to bed. He said his children alerted him after noticing security personnel around the residence.
Ogunwole said he initially remained inside because he wanted to confirm the identity of the officers and understand why they had come. According to him, the officers later informed him that they had a warrant.
The Vice-Chancellor said he declined to leave until he was properly informed about the basis of the proposed arrest.
He connected the incident to a petition allegedly filed by individuals linked to the university, including former Vice-Chancellor Prof. Abayomi Fasina and former Dean of the Faculty of Law, Dr Kehinde Adeola.
Ogunwole said the dispute was connected to an audio recording that had allegedly been leaked and which led university management to invite individuals connected to the matter before an investigative committee.
He said the matter was subsequently taken to court and that he had also petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over alleged threats to his life and workplace.
The Vice-Chancellor maintained that he was prepared to respond to any lawful invitation and said his lawyers had contacted the police over the matter.
Meanwhile, FUOYE’s branch chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Dr Ojo Fagbuagun, said the union mobilised to the Vice-Chancellor’s residence after learning of the police presence.
Fagbuagun alleged that some individuals linked to the university’s previous administration were unhappy with changes being introduced under Ogunwole.
He also made allegations concerning promotions and financial management at the university but did not provide evidence to substantiate the claims during his interaction with journalists.
Fagbuagun further alleged that the former administration had chosen police petitions instead of using internal mechanisms to address disputes.
The allegations by the Vice-Chancellor and the ASUU chairman could not be independently verified, while the reasons for the police presence and the contents of the reported warrant were not independently established.
