The Federal Government has suspended Vice Chancellors of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) over alleged N956 million fraud.

FUNAAB Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Oyewole, is currently facing a criminal charge in court.

The May 5, 2017 suspension letters FME/HE/SU/56A/V/929 was signed by the acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Hussaini Adamu, on behalf of the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu.

The letter directed Oyewole to hand over the affairs of the institution to the most senior staff.

“Sequel to your arraignment before an Ogun State High Court on criminal charges, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday 24th November 2016, I am directed to convey the Honourable Minister’s approval to place you on suspension from office with immediate effect pending the determination of the court case against you in accordance with extant rules,” the letter reads.

“You are therefore, directed to hand over the affairs of your office to the most senior Deputy Vice Chancellor, in the University.”

The EFCC charged Oyewole, alongside former Pro Chancellor of the school, Adeseye Ogunewe, the Bursar, Moses Ilesanmi, to court for alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of funds.

They were investigated after whistleblowers tipped off the anti-graft agency and accused the trio of suspicious dealings totalling N800 million.

The case is before Justice O. Majekodunmi of the state High Court.

In November 2016, EFCC arraigned Oyewole, Ogunlewe and Ilesanmi on an 18-count charge of financial misappropriation.

Members of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) in the institution had earlier shut down the school in protest, and called on the federal government to probe activities of the institution under Oyewole’s leadership.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

FUNAAB Head of Directorate of Public Relations, Mrs Emi Alawode, in a statement, yesterday, said the school has been inundated with inquiries on whether the Oyewole was suspended from office or not.

Her words: “Consultations are in progress with university administration on the true position of things while a formal statement will be issued in due course.”

Alawode, however, assured that normal academic and administrative activities are ongoing in the university.

Also, the EFCC slammed a nine-count charge bordering on N156 million alleged fraud committed between 2012 to 2016 with case No: AK/4C/2017 against FUTA Vice Chancellor, Prof Daramola and the institution’s Bursar, Emmanuel Oresegun.

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