The management of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has dismissed reports claiming that its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, was arrested and detained by the police in Abuja following his role in the recently concluded Osun State governorship election.
Ogunwole served as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer and Chief Returning Officer for the election, where he declared the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, winner after the completion of the electoral process.
In a statement issued in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, FUOYE Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Dr Sunday Saanu, described the reports of the vice-chancellor’s alleged arrest as “entirely false, baseless, and deliberately fabricated.”
Saanu said, “Prof. Ogunwole has not been arrested, detained, or invited by the police or any other security agency in connection with his official duties as Returning Officer or for any other reason.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, the substantive VC of FUOYE, successfully discharged his responsibilities as the Independent National Electoral Commission Returning Officer for the Osun State Governorship Election.
In that capacity, he declared the incumbent Governor, Mr Ademola Adeleke, as the winner of the election following the conclusion of the process,” the statement said.
The university further clarified that Ogunwole had not been in the custody of any security agency at any point, urging the public to disregard the claims and exercise caution when dealing with unverified information circulating on social media.
According to the institution, the vice-chancellor travelled from Oye-Ekiti to Abuja on Monday for official university engagements, where he was expected to attend to important administrative and institutional matters.
The management expressed concern over what it described as the deliberate spread of fabricated reports capable of creating unnecessary anxiety among the university community, Osun residents and the wider public.
It said, “It is deeply regrettable that some individuals chose to spread fabricated stories aimed at causing unnecessary anxiety among members of the university community, the people of Osun State, and the general public.
“The university management strongly condemns this reckless dissemination of fake news. The management reassures all stakeholders that Prof. Ogunwole remains free, fully engaged in his duties as VC, and continues to work diligently and round the clock to reposition FUOYE for greater academic excellence and institutional growth.
“The university remains committed to transparency and will continue to provide accurate information on matters affecting the institution and its leadership,” the management stated.