Police in Ekiti State on Monday arrested some leaders of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) chapter, over alleged threat of violence against the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Abayomi Fasina, a professor.
But the police authorities have denied that the union leaders were arrested, saying they were only invited and have since been freed.
This is as the vice-chancellor has denied involvement in the matter, saying he never gave any instruction to anyone to author any petition, and that he immediately intervened and pleaded for their release when he heard of the matter.
However, SSANU officials in the state, who promptly intervened, thanked the Governor of the state, Abiodun Oyebanji, for his intervention.
They insisted that following telephone calls and messages to some influential personalities, who are listed as Oludotun Adetuberu and General Ogundana, the governor intervened and ensured the officials were released.
Alleged arrest
On Monday evening, the Vice-Chairman of the university’s branch of SSANU, Simeon Olausi, issued an alert to all members of the union on the campus, announcing the arrest of some leaders of SSANU by the Ekiti State Police Command.
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Mr Olausi said the arrest was in response to a petition allegedly authored by the institution’s chief security officer on the order of the VC.
Titled: “Notice to All SSANU FUOYE Members and the University Community,” Mr Olausi described the development as “concerning and unacceptable, as it is a direct attack on unionism, workers’ rights, and freedom of association as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and Labour Laws.”
He listed officers of the union concerned to include the FUOYE branch Chairman, Faleye Benjamin, Ademola Mutiu, Oyelude Yekeen, Aluko Ayomikun, and Nwokeke Barnabas.
The statement further reads in part: “The university community and the general public are hereby placed on notice that should anything untoward happen to our detained members, the university management, led by the Vice Chancellor, shall be held fully liable for any harm or consequence arising from this unlawful act.
“SSANU FUOYE remains committed to peaceful and lawful engagement in pursuit of justice, fairness, and the protection of our members’ rights.”|
Meanwhile, subsequently, the union issued another statement, containing a reported directive by the national leadership of the union, announcing that “all SSANU members in the Western zone and the need for immediate mobilisation to Ekiti State.
Police deny arrest
In a telephone conversation with the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Police Command, Sunday Abutu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), the police denied arresting the union officers.
According to Mr Abutu, the unionists were invited over certain issues, and that they were later asked to go.
“The police did not arrest them, they were invited over certain developments, and they have been asked to go,” Mr Abutu said.
VC denies involvement
The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Mr Fasina, who said he was away in Abuja, said he was surUprised to receive the news of the invitation to the union leaders by the police.
He said he immediately called the state’s Commissioner of Police to find out what was happening and instantly appealed for their release.
Mr Fasina, a Professor of Soil Science, said as soon as he resumed on Monday, he had focused on promoting peace and industrial harmony on the campus.
He said: “Except they want to be unfair to me. As soon as I resumed office I approved the payment of the relocation allowance for these workers. About N160 million was released for that purpose. In fact, that of the academic staff is yet to be resolved. So how can I be the one responsible for any arrest again.”
He appealed to the workers and students to prioritise dialogue over violence, saying the university is bigger than individuals.