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Drama in Ado-Ekiti as FUOYE Staff, Students Rally Against Alleged Arrest of Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole
Drama in Ado-Ekiti as FUOYE Staff, Students Rally Against Alleged Arrest of Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole
Drama unfolded in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, in the early hours of Wednesday, September 30, 2026, after policemen reportedly surrounded the official residence of the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, in an apparent attempt to arrest him.
The development sparked tension within the university community as academic and non-academic staff, as well as students, reportedly mobilised to the Vice-Chancellor’s residence in solidarity with him and opposed what they described as an attempt to take him away from the premises.
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The incident began after Ogunwole raised the alarm over the presence of policemen around his official residence, saying he was initially unsure of the reason for their arrival or whether the men were genuine police officers.
Speaking to journalists at his residence, the Vice-Chancellor said the policemen arrived at about 6:10am, shortly after he had gone to bed at approximately 3am.
According to him, his children woke him after noticing security personnel around the house, prompting him to establish what was happening before deciding whether to come outside.
Ogunwole said the police officers subsequently informed him that they had a warrant, but he maintained that he would not leave his residence without being properly informed of the basis for the proposed arrest.
The Vice-Chancellor connected the development to a petition allegedly written by some individuals associated 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 explained that the dispute was linked to an audio recording which he alleged had leaked and subsequently prompted the university management to invite those connected to it before an investigative committee to explain the contents of the recording.
Ogunwole said the matter had since proceeded to court, while he had also petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over what he described as threats to his life and workplace.
He explained that, against that background, he had instructed his lawyers to contact the police and clarify that the matter was already before the court and that he remained available to respond to any lawful invitation.
The Vice-Chancellor also recalled an earlier occasion when he honoured a police invitation concerning another petition. He said he appeared at the police station with his lawyers, was questioned from morning until evening and was eventually released on self-recognisance.
Against this backdrop, Ogunwole questioned why the latest development had to involve policemen surrounding his residence instead of extending a formal invitation to him.
“Somebody of my calibre would not run away anywhere. Rather than surrounding my house, there are other better approaches to invite me,” he said.
Despite the incident, the Vice-Chancellor said he remained committed to the administration’s agenda and expressed confidence in the rule of law.
He reiterated his determination to continue with efforts aimed at repositioning the institution and giving FUOYE what he described as a new identity.
“There is no turning back. Our mission to create a new face for FUOYE. No U-turn, no diversion. We are resolute.”
The incident subsequently attracted representatives of several staff unions to the Vice-Chancellor’s residence.
The FUOYE branch chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr Ojo Fagbuagun, said the union mobilised to the residence because of concerns over what he described as attempts to intimidate the Vice-Chancellor.
Fagbuagun alleged that some individuals associated with the university’s previous administration were uncomfortable with changes being introduced under Ogunwole.
He further alleged that some unnamed individuals were involved in irregularities, including “illegal promotion, abnormal promotion, mismanagement of funds” and other forms of misconduct.
However, no evidence substantiating those allegations was presented during the interview.
The ASUU chairman maintained that academic staff would resist what he described as any further attempt 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.
Similarly, the Chairman of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), FUOYE branch, Comrade Oluwashola Babafemi, said members of his association were at the residence to protect what he described as the peace and progress being experienced under the current administration.
Babafemi said Ogunwole had remained accessible to members of staff and had paid attention to issues concerning their welfare.
He expressed concern that any development capable of disrupting the university’s current direction could affect the institution’s stability.
The branch secretary of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), Comrade Emmanuel Adegun, said members of the union were alerted after learning that police officers had arrived at the Vice-Chancellor’s residence and might attempt to take him away.
He said the union subsequently mobilised to the residence to demonstrate solidarity with the Vice-Chancellor.
Another member of the non-teaching staff, Victoria Adeyoju, also appealed for an end to what she described as attempts to intimidate Ogunwole.
Adeyoju said staff members were interested in peace, stability and good governance within the university.
The early-morning incident consequently became a major point of concern within the FUOYE community, with staff and students gathering around the Vice-Chancellor as the circumstances surrounding the police presence continued to generate questions.
While Ogunwole maintained that he was prepared to respond to any lawful invitation and insisted that the matter was already before the court, the mobilisation by the university community underscored the tension surrounding the dispute and the competing positions over the leadership and direction of the institution.