Police Detain FIJ Journalist For Reporting FUOYE VC’s Sexual Harassment Story
Sodiq Atanda, a senior reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), was detained at the command headquarters of the Ekiti State Police Command in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday.
Atanda’s arrest comes barely a week after Yusuf Oketola, Assistant News Editor at OSUN DEFENDER Newspaper, was detained at the Zone XI command of the police in Osogbo, over a petition based on an alleged defamation case.
While the police demanded N500,000 for his bail from his organisation, the newspaper refused to pay, but a sum of N50,000 was later extorted from his family.
OSUN DEFENDER learnt that Atanda’s arrest was reportedly ordered by the state Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, after honouring an invitation to respond to a petition filed by Prof. Abayomi Fasina, the embattled Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), who is currently on leave.
It was gathered that the police had earlier, on September 1, invited the journalist over Fasina’s allegations of cyberbullying, blackmail, and criminal defamation.
The petition, filed by Fasina’s lawyers at T.S. Adegboyega & Co. in Osogbo, accused Atanda and FIJ of conspiracy, malicious misrepresentation, and cyberbullying.
“This office is investigating a complaint via petition from T. S Adegboyega & CO. (Solicitors, Advocates and Notary Public) of 141, Station Road, Idi-Seke, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria on behalf of his Client Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina,” Hadi wrote.
“The petition was captioned ‘Petition Against Mr Sodeeq Atanda and Foundation for Investigative Journalism on Conspiracy, Criminal Defamation, Blackmail, Malicious Misrepresentation and Cyberbullying’, dated 22nd August, 2025 and signed by T. S. Adegboyega Esq.
“The petition was approved and forwarded to this Department for details investigation [sic]. On the arrival [sic], you are requested to interview the Commissioner of Police through the Assistant Commissioner of Police In-Charge State Intelligence Department (SID), Police Headquarters, Ado-Ekiti, as the complainant will be physically present.
“Please note that attendance is not by proxy and you are to attend and honoured this invitation [sic] on Thursday 4th September, 2025 by 12:00Hrs prompt [sic].”
On January 23, 2025, Atanda had reported that the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Fasina, was implicated in a leaked audio recording in which he was heard sexually harassing Engineer Folasade Adebayo, a married deputy director at the university’s Directorate of Works and Services.
In the recorded phone conversation, Fasina is heard professing his emotions to Adebayo, describing her as someone “so dear” to his heart.
“Marriage is by chance,” Fasina stated in the recording, further adding, “You are the only right person to confide in, in and out.”
He also claimed his feelings for her were deep and consuming, likening them to something “eating deeply” into him.
FIJ Founder, Fisayo Soyombo, in a Facebook post, alleged that both Fasin and Eribo were behind Atanda’s detention, and urged Nigerians to hold them responsible if anything happened to him.
Meanwhile, in September 2024, when SaharaReporters contacted Fasina to inquire about the allegations of sexual harassment, he threatened our correspondent on the phone.
He said, “Young man, be very careful. You are showing interest in a matter that doesn’t concern you.
“Don’t be a judge in your own case, and you have become very insulting. Don’t go too far. Don’t go too far. You have become rude to the university. If you have an interest in a case, this is not how to go about it.”
“Don’t begin to interfere in a matter that does not concern you. Come on, get out, my friend,” Fasina added.
Meanwhile, on February 12, 2025, SaharaReporters revealed that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) allegedly abducted Dr. Samuel Oyeyemi Agbeleoba on the orders of Prof. Sunday Fasina, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Ekiti State.
The abduction is believed to be connected to sexual harassment allegations levelled against Fasina by Engineer Mrs. Folasade Adebayo, Agbeleoba’s sister.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the action was allegedly orchestrated to intimidate Adebayo, who had accused Fasina of persistent sexual advances and harassment.
“This is an attempt to silence Adebayo,” said a source at FUOYE who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
“If true, it shows a disturbing pattern of using state security agencies to cover up misconduct.”
A source told SaharaReporters that DSS operatives stormed Agbeleoba’s residence around 10 p.m. in a Gestapo-style raid.
“They jumped through the fence and forcefully opened the entrance gate while the dog was barking.
“They manhandled him, searched all his rooms, and seized his two phones and laptop while his wife and children cried. They also recorded videos of his room and belongings,” the source said.
On November 30, 2024, SaharaReporters reported that the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) branch, petitioned the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, demanding urgent intervention over allegations of sexual harassment, victimisation, and governance irregularities at the institution.
In the letter, signed by SSANU Chairman, Benjamin Faleye, and Secretary, Ayomikun Aluko, the union outlined serious accusations against Prof. Fasina.
The petition noted that Adebayo first lodged her complaint in February 2024, while her family submitted a follow-up letter in October 2024, both of which were attached for the minister’s review.
Beyond the harassment claims, SSANU accused Fasina of abuse of office, financial mismanagement, and disregard for established service schemes. They alleged that qualified non-teaching staff were being sidelined in favour of teaching staff for leadership positions in non-teaching units, in violation of university regulations.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
