The Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has confirmed allegations of sexual harassment against Dr Anthony Agbegbedia, a lecturer in the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies.
Agbegbedia was accused of failing a female student after she refused to submit to his sexual advances.
Meanwhile, the university acknowledged the misconduct, but instead of imposing appropriate disciplinary action in line with school rules, FUOYE controversially promoted Dr Agbegbedia to the rank of Reader.
However, while the university admitted to the lecturer’s unethical behaviour, he was rewarded with a promotion instead of facing a thorough investigation and appropriate consequences.
In September, it was reported that a final-year student of the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies at the school had accused Agbegbedia of failing her because she refused to submit to his sexual advances.
The student alleged that Agbegbedia failed her after she declined his advances.
She said the lecturer repeatedly asked her out but she did not accept to go out with him.
According to her, during their interactions, Agbegbedia asked her to meet him in Ado-Ekiti. She said she made excuses to avoid the meetings throughout her first and second semesters of 400-Level (PCs 411 and PCs 414).
Meanwhile, a statement released by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, through his Special Assistant on Media, Dr Wole Balogun, on Wednesday, stated that Miss Ramota Olahanloye, has received justice.
The statement reads, “The young lady‘s script was remarked and she performed fairly better than what she had earlier gotten from Agbegbedia. The University Management has therefore approved that her final-year results be processed and executive approval was given for her to graduate having gotten the results that qualified her to do so.
“She has since commenced her final clearance from relevant units of the University.”
Miss Ramota’s father, Mr Rasaki Olahanloye, said he was very pleased that his daughter eventually got justice.
Olahanloye said, “l can confirm to the world that the Federal University Oye-Ekiti has served justice to my daughter over this case. I was shown my daughter’s upgraded results after remarking of her scripts in the two courses in question.
“This confirmed to me that my daughter is graduating from the University. The University made good their promise to ensure that her scripts were remarked and when that was done, they told me that she has passed and will be graduating so l am happy about this. l am okay with the development.
“Also commenting on the development, an elated Ms Ramota said: “I am happy that l have gotten justice on the matter and l really appreciate my Vice-Chancellor who set up the committee that looked into the case and also the members of the committee for a job well done.
“I was shown my student’s entire results including the graduation list which has my name on it. l have been directed to commence my clearance as a graduating student of the University, so l am happy.”
Meanwhile, the management added that Agbegbedia has been punished as decided by the management for his misconduct.
Recently, it was reported that Agbegbedia had been promoted to the rank of Reader by the university.
Meanwhile, a source told SaharaReporters that in 2021, the school management suspended a lecturer in the Theatre and Media Arts Department, Dr Desen Mbachaga, over alleged sexual harassment.
However, in a promotion letter signed by the Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Mufutau A. Ibrahim, and obtained by SaharaReporters, Agbegbedia was promoted by the University Governing Council to the position of Reader in the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences.
The promotion with an annual salary of ₦5,219,772 was confirmed on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.
The letter read, “Dear Dr Agbegbedia, I have the pleasure of informing you that the University Governing Council at its 34th Statutory Meeting of Wednesday, 6th November, 2024, approved that you be promoted to the position of Reader in the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences in the University on salary of (N5,219,772) per annum; that is CONUASS 06 Step 01 with effect from 1st October, 2023.
“On behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, I congratulate you very warmly on this promotion, which is well deserved, and I hope that you will be further motivated to give your very best to the development of this University.”
When newsmen contacted the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the university, Engineer Kayode Ojo, to ask why Agbegbedia was promoted to the position of Reader with a salary increase despite being accused of sexually harassing a female student, he said, “I’m the Pro-Chancellor of the university. I do not run the university; I am not the Vice-Chancellor. I’m sure the Vice-Chancellor would be in a better position to answer your question.
“Well, whatever the official university decision, I’m sure they will have shared it with you, and then I don’t even know what is your people’s interest in the matter.”
“We take issues like sexual harassment very seriously. You know, I have a daughter in university, and I wouldn’t want anyone to harass her,” he said.
“It’s a no-no. But in the case whereby, you know in any case, if it’s your word against mine, this is a difficult thing to do. There has to be compelling evidence before you can punish anyone.
“I’m sure if he has been found wanting and guilty, of course, he will be punished. No doubt about it, that’s what we stand for.”
“We stand for the protection of our children, our students, and all those people. So we’re not there to cover up or to protect anybody who is irresponsible,” he added.
“We’re trying to put a stringent policy in place now that will auto-pilot itself against any of those behaviours. So our council is still very young, we are inaugurated in July.
“We’re just trying to find our feet to do everything that we’re supposed to do
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