The Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Ekiti State, has suspended two members of staff and the President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) over allegations of extorting students through the collection of an unauthorised levy.
The university’s Registrar, Mufutau Ibrahim, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, saying the action followed allegations that some students were compelled to pay an unapproved fee.
The affected officials were the Director of the Directorate of Educational Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Olanrewaju Ogunjobi; the Deputy Dean of Student Affairs and Support Services, Banji Olaleye; and the SUG President, James Adio.
According to the registrar, Ogunjobi and Olaleye were accused in a petition of collecting N1,000 from each 100-level student, purportedly for practical sessions conducted by the directorate.
“In the interest of fairness and in accordance with the principles of natural justice, management constituted a preliminary fact-finding committee to look into the allegations,” Ibrahim said.
“All persons mentioned in the petition were invited to appear before the committee. They were duly questioned and given the opportunity to respond to the allegations made against them,” he added.
Ibrahim said the committee’s findings indicated that Ogunjobi allegedly approved and collected the funds without obtaining the required approval from the university authorities.
“With respect to Ogunjobi, the committee found that he allegedly authorised and collected the sum of one thousand naira from each affected student without recourse to the senate, management, or the university’s extant directives that all payments must be made through the bursary and with the approval of management,” Ibrahim stated.
The registrar further explained that Olaleye allegedly played a role in the collection process despite occupying a key position within the university’s student affairs structure.
He added that the SUG president was also implicated in the matter and consequently suspended pending further investigation.
