Ogunwole Says Police Arrived at His Residence Over Petition, Community Demands Due Process
Some staff and students of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) on Wednesday resisted an attempt by police officers to arrest the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, at his residence in Ado-Ekiti.
Ogunwole said the officers arrived at his official residence around 6:10am, after his children noticed security personnel surrounding the house and alerted him.
The Vice-Chancellor said the officers later told him they had a warrant but that he declined to leave until he was properly informed of the reason for the proposed arrest.
He linked the development to a petition allegedly filed by some individuals connected with the university, including former Vice-Chancellor Prof. Abayomi Fasina and former Dean of the Faculty of Law, Dr Kehinde Adeola.
According to Ogunwole, the dispute followed the emergence of an audio recording which prompted the university management to set up 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 said his lawyers had contacted the police to explain that the matter was already before the court and that he remained available to respond to any lawful invitation.
He said he had previously honoured a police invitation over an earlier petition and appeared with his lawyers before being released on self-recognisance.
Ogunwole said he believed the latest development could have been handled through an invitation rather than surrounding his residence, adding that he remained committed to his plans to reposition the university.
FUOYE’s ASUU branch chairman, Dr Ojo Fagbuagun, said the union mobilised to the Vice-Chancellor’s residence because of what he described as an attempt to intimidate him.
Fagbuagun also made allegations of irregularities under the university’s previous administration, including alleged promotion and financial management issues, but no evidence of the allegations was provided during the interview.
Representatives of NAAT and NASU also expressed solidarity with the Vice-Chancellor, saying they wanted to protect the university’s peace and progress.
The police did not provide a response in the statement supplied.