Sexual harassment: FUOYE VC drags media firms to court, seeks N250m damages

The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Sunday Fasina, has filed a lawsuit against two media houses at an Ekiti State High Court, seeking damages amounting N250 million.

Fasina in a suit filed at the Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, listed SaharaReporters, the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), and a senior staff of the university, Folasade Adebayo, as defendants.

Represented by his counsel, T.S. Adegboyega, the vice-chancellor noted that the defendants maliciously circulated an audio recording and published accompanying reports that defamed him, causing him and family substantial reputational damage.

In his statement of claim, Fasina contended that the audio was obtained and circulated without his consent, and that its publication, constituted cyberbullying, cyberstalking, defamation, and blackmail.

“The audio recording and related publication by the defendants, contained baseless and malicious allegations of sexual harassment and victimisation, clearly intended to tarnish my reputation,” the VC stated.

He added that an internal investigation conducted by FUOYE’s Governing Council and its relevant committees cleared him of any wrongdoing.

The FUOYE VC stated that a Certified True Copy of the Council’s investigative report in April 2025 affirmed his exoneration.

Fasina noted that a separate petition filed by a civil society organisation, Peace Initiatives, was investigated by the Nigeria Police Force.

He noted that the police report, dated March 21, 2024, also cleared him of all allegations, including sexual harassment, abuse of office, and intimidation.

Fasina said: “Despite these findings, Sahara Reporters proceeded to publish a report on 30 November 2024, titled: ‘University Staff SSANU in Ekiti Petition Minister to Probe Sexual Harassment, Victimisation Allegations Against Vice-Chancellor’.

“Since the circulation of the audio recordings and defamatory reports by FIJ and SaharaReporters, I have received numerous phone calls, WhatsApp messages, and visits from concerned colleagues, family, and professional contacts in Nigeria and abroad.”

The reliefs sought by Fasina in his suit are: “A declaration that the audio recording and its circulation, along with the accompanying falsehoods, constitute slander; a declaration that the unauthorised publication by the defendants, amounts to cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and blackmailing.

“An award of aggravated damages in the sum of N250 million; a court order, directing the defendants, to publish a retraction and public apology, in three national newspapers, and on their digital platforms.

“A perpetual injunction, restraining the defendants from publishing or circulating any similar or defamatory materials, and N20 million, as the cost of litigation.”