The Vice Chancellor, Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Abayomi Fasina, has filed libelous suit against the institution?s former Chairman, Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU), Dr Akinyemi Omonijo, before an EKiti State High Court over allegation of double salary collection.

News Express reports that the former ASUU Chairman, Omonijo, had accused Fasina of collecting double salaries in two different universities.

Fasina, not happy with the allegation against him, instituted a N500 million libelous suit against Omonijo through his counsel, Mr Olasunkanmi Ladeji.

The claimant In the writ of summons with Suit No. HAD/143/2023, urged the court to declare as libelous letter on the allegation of double salary collection written by the defendant against him and circulated online and amongst members of the Grace Covenant Centre Ado-Ekiti.

He urged the court to order the defendant to publish a retraction of the said story in three major different daily National Newspapers in Nigeria, post same on the internet and a public apology.

The claimant further urged the court to make an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant from publishing similar or further libelous publication(s) against him.

However, in the statement of defence and counter-claims of the defendant filed through his counsel, Mr Bayo Idowu, argued that the purported libel suit against him was initiated in bad faith by the claimant and to use the weight of his office as FUOYE Vice-Chancellor to embarrass and harass him. He further prays the Honourable Court to dismiss the claims of the Claimant for lacking in merit, frivolous, vexatious, unreasonable and gold digging and grant the defendant substantial cost for causing him strain in the course of doing his work.

The defendant urged the court to award a cost of N250 million as general damages in his favour and against the claimant for the emotional stress, psychological torture and further damage to his health.

He prayed for an order of the court restraining the claimant from further interfering with his rights, privileges and performance of his duties as a lecturer in the claimant?s employer.

The defendant further urged the court to compel the claimant to be alive to his responsibilities and ensure the payment of his 35 months outstanding salaries as a result of his illegal suspension from FUOYE in February 2019 based on the Consent Judgment of the Court.

?An order of perpetual injunction restraining the claimant from carrying out any action or activity that will affect the defendant?s work.

?An order of the court compelling the claimant being the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti to do the promotion of the defendant to the next rank (READER) and back dated to October 1, 2020 according to the Consent Judgment of the Court.

?An order of the court compelling the claimant to pay the sum of N8.5 million as cost of litigation,? the defendant?s counsel prayed the court.

The defendant?s Counsel, Idowu, had filed a motion on notice on September 24, 2024 and the same served on the Claimant, which is now awaiting a date from the court to hear it.

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