FUOYE Denies VC’s Arrest Following Osun Election

The management of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has dismissed reports that its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, was arrested and detained by the police in Abuja following his role in the recently concluded Osun State governorship election.

Ogunwole served as the Chief Returning Officer for the election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which resulted in the declaration of incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke as the winner.

In a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, FUOYE Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Dr Sunday Saanu, described reports of the Vice-Chancellor’s arrest and detention as “entirely false, baseless, and deliberately fabricated.”

Saanu said Ogunwole had neither been arrested nor detained or invited by the police or any other security agency in connection with his duties as Returning Officer.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, the substantive VC of FUOYE, successfully discharged his responsibilities as the Independent National Electoral Commission Returning Officer for the Osun State Governorship Election,” the statement said.

According to the university, Ogunwole completed his electoral responsibilities and subsequently travelled from Oye-Ekiti to Abuja on Monday to attend to official university matters.

“He travelled to the Federal Capital Territory to attend to critical administrative and institutional matters affecting the university,” the statement added.

FUOYE management stressed that the Vice-Chancellor had not been in the custody of any security agency at any point following the election.

It urged members of the public to disregard the reports and exercise caution when encountering unverified claims circulating on social media.

“It is deeply regrettable that some individuals chose to spread fabricated stories aimed at causing unnecessary anxiety among members of the university community, the people of Osun State, and the general public,” the university said.

The institution condemned what it described as the reckless dissemination of fake news and reassured stakeholders that Ogunwole remained free and actively performing his responsibilities as Vice-Chancellor.

The university said he continued to work towards advancing academic excellence and institutional development at FUOYE.

“The university remains committed to transparency and will continue to provide accurate information on matters affecting the institution and its leadership,” the management stated.

The denial comes amid online reports concerning the whereabouts of Ogunwole after his role in the Osun governorship election, during which he formally announced Adeleke as the winner of the poll.