Ekiti State High Court, Ado-Ekiti has fixed Tuesday, October 29, 2024 to commence the suit instituted by Prof. Abayomi Fasina, Vice-Chancellor, Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) against Dr Akinyemi Omonijo, former Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of the university over alleged collection of double salaries in two different universities at the same time.

Fasina has also filed and served reply to Statement of Defence and Defence to Counter-Claim through his Counsel, Mr. Tiamiyu Adegboyega, to the Counter-Claim of the Defendant/Counter-Claimant, the institution?s former ASUU Chairman, Omonijo on 8th and 16th October 2024 respectively after a motion on notice filed by the Defendant's/Counter-Claimant's Counsel and a publication titled ?Alleged salary fraud: FUOYE VC sues institution?s former ASUU Chairman for libel" published by online media, News Express.

In the defence to counter-claim, Fasina denied all claims made by Omonijo in the Counter-claim. He urged the Honourable Court to dismiss the Counter-Claim for being frivolous, vexations, unreasonable, gold digging and lacking in merit with substantial cost.

The Claimant/Defence to Counter-Claim admitted that a token of N100,000.00 was gifted to assist the Counter-Claimant when it became public knowledge through ASUU-FUOYE that the Counter Claimant was sick and needed money for medication.

The Claimant/Defence to Counter-Claim said query was issued by the Defendant?s employer and all other actions carried out were in accordance to the Act and Regulations governing the Conditions of Service of the Counter-Claimant in the Federal University Oye-Ekiti and no more.

Furthermore, the Claimant Defence to Counter-Claim stated that he never circulated any defamatory statement by any mode, adding that Banji Olaleye is not his agent and has never been acting on his behalf.

However, in the reply of Defendant/Counter-Claimant filed through his counsel, Mr. Bayo Idowu, reiterated his earlier prayer urged Honourable Court to dismiss the claims of the Claimant/Defendant to Counter-Claim for lacking in merit, frivolous, vexatious, unreasonable and gold digging and grant the Defendant?s/Counter-Claimant?s claims with substantial cost against the Claimant/Defendant to Counter-Claim for causing him strain in the course of his work.

?The Defendant/Counter-Claimant stated that the Claimant/Defendant to counter-claim used his position as FUOYE VC to block his appointment and resumption of duty at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB). He went further that the Claimant/Defendant to counter-claim succeeded to block his assumption of duty in FUNAAB because he is a native of Abeokuta (Egbaland) where the University is located.

?The Defendant/Counter-Claimant said it is a known fact that Banji Olaleye circulated a defamatory statement via mobile telecommunication and death threat against him in support of the Claimant/ Defendant to Counter-Claim. The name of the Claimant/Defendant to Counter-Claim is in the Police report obtained through National Human Rights Commission, Ado-Ekiti.

?The Defendant/Counter-Claimant stated that there was never a time he solicited for money for medication from the general public or authorized any person to solicit for money on his behalf. He reiterated his earlier position that the money was an unsolicited because the Claimant/Defendant to counter-claim paid the money into the bank account of my daughter thinking that I will die in order to use it as a cover-up.

?The Defendant/Counter-Claimant stated that the Claimant/Defendant to counter-claim is using the weight of his position as a Vice-Chancellor, Federal University Oye-Ekiti to intimidate, punish and oppress him to submission. He further argued that his various negative actions against him amounted to abuse of office.?