One of the leading legal practitioners, Barrister Ajibola Bello has strongly condemned the statement issued by the Governing Counci, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti over alleged Sexual Harassment at Workplace on the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina.
Barrister Ajibola alleged that upon listening to the audio conversation which Engr. Adebayo recorded, it is glaring to the blind and the deaf that Engr. Adebayo was being sexually harassed by the VC, and the harassment can be pursued both as a civil and crimimal matter.
The statement read thus:
Sexual Harassment at Workplace: A Condemnation of the Press Release by the Governing Counci, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti Made on 8th April, 2025.
By:
Ajibola Bello, Esq.
I have read the Press Release made by the Office of the Registrar, Federal University Oye-Ekiti on the 8th of April, 2025, particularly with regards to the issue of sexual harassment between the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina and a viable and prominent staff of the University, Engr. Folashade Adebayo, and the irrefutable conclusion I could make from the publication vis-a-vis the audio recording I listened to, is that the said Engr. Adebayo has been unfairly victimised, while the report makes bold appraisal to myopically vindicate the VC, thereby concretising the narrative that in cases of sexual harassment, there is always an unequal bargaining power and the party with the greater weight will unjustly supervene, which makes it very difficult for victims of workplace harassment to come out vindicated and freed from oppression.
Reading the report, it was clear that the members of the panel had been bought over by the VC as they deliberately came out boldly to turn the table by asserting that Engr. Adebayo was set out to blackmail the VC while also alleging that Engr. Adebayo dragged the name of the university in disrepute and posited that they condemned the recording made without his knowledge.
Bearing the report in mind, the truth of the matter is that upon listening to the audio conversation which Engr. Adebayo recorded, it is glaring to the blind and the deaf that Engr. Adebayo was being sexually harassed by the VC and the harassment can be pursued both as a civil and crimimal matter.
The conversation was in a mixture of yoruba and English language, and for clarity, the VC was asking Engr. Adebayo be more than just a workplace associate but a lover. Engr. Adebayo repeatedly told the VC that they were both married and she couldn’t go beyond being a responsible staff and member of the VC’s management team.
The VC proceeded to cite example of married people he knew in the US and Canada who were “relating” and “helping” eachother with symbiotic relationships. Engr. Adebayo told the VC that she has been helping the VC by praying for him to which the VC retorted that, “mio ni gba o” – meaning “I will not give up”. The VC said there are other ladies chasing after him, that they are even more beautiful, but they are not as intelligent as Engr. Adebayo.
The VC told Engr. Adebayo that “I so much like you”, he went as far as saying that he challenged the Registrar who was contending against Engr. Adebayo. Saying that he paid two tranches of N10million for the Registrar to get his appointment which was not merited, hence, he should not challenge Engr. Adebayo. This was in a bid to make Engr. Adebayo give in to his demand.
The VC went as far as saying that at one point, if he were desperate, he would have come to meet Engr. Adebayo in her room after a meeting and Engr. Adebayo responded that she wouldn’t have opened the door. The conversation clearly paints a picture of a subordinate respectfully rejecting the advances of a superior without wanting to be abusive or offensive. Yet, the VC kept saying he is not giving up.
While there is a lot more to be deduced from the audio conversation, let’s make it clear that in highlight, the act of the VC in wanting an amorous relationship from Engr. Adebayo in exchange for administrative favours, and stating that it was because of how he “feels for her that he added her to the Management team” is an harassment in quid pro quo form and a corrupt practice by a Public Officer which runs contrary to the provisions of sections 10, 18 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. The ICPC as the relevant law enforcement agency in this regard is accordingly urged to wade in and take necessary actions on the admissions made by the VC in the audio recording.
From a civil right perspective, it is important to mention that the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) has since been vested with jurisdiction to handle matters of sexual harassment at workplace, and I believe that beyond the kangaroo conclusion made by the Governing Council, purportedly vindicating the VC, the NICN would be the best umpire in evaluating the happenstance between the VC and Engr. Adebayo, and in coming to a just conclusion as to whether or not, there was sexual harassment. For avoidance of doubt, the NICN Rules, particularly Order 14 Rule 1 categorises sexual harassment at workplace into four, that is: physical conduct, verbal, non-verbal and quid pro quo harassment. The Quid pro quo especially covers situations where an owner, employer, supervisor, member of management or co-employee undertakes or attempts to influence or influences the process of employment, promotion, training, discipline, dismissal, salary increments or other benefits of an employee or job applicant in exchange for sexual favours.
The foregoing indicates clearly that contrary to the hasty, flawed and biased conclusion of the Council, sexual harassment isn’t until a person is “touched”. Insisting on having an amorous relationship with a subordinate is clearly sexual harassment going by the wordings of the NICN Rules of Court. All that a complainant has to do is to present cogent, concrete and convincing evidence which I strongly believe that Engr. Adebayo possess.
On a general note, the Press Release of the FUOYE Governing Council should be taken with a pinch of salt and disregarded, while I equally urge persons (females especially) who might be facing cases of societal or workplace sexual harassment to not be deterred from speaking out as the law has been set in motion to set you free.
Ajibola Bello, Esq. is a Legal Practitioner,
Head, Corporate Department, and Deputy Managing Partner
at Law Corridor, Abuja.
ajibola@lawcorridor.org
