By Aduloju Ayomide
This write-up becomes imperative given a disturbing development that happened on the social media at the weekend, precisely October 5, 2024, about a court case allegedly filed against an ex-local chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Dr Abiodun Omonijo.
A report by an online platform entitled: “Alleged salary fraud: FUOYE VC sues institution’s former ASUU Chairman for libel”, went viral and becomes an embarrassing one for the FUOYE community and her friends as well as the well-wishers of the prestigious university.
What primarily interests a keen observer like me is a need to ask the pertinent question: What motive could be behind the publication of such report? An independent investigation revealed that the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, did not authorize any of his media aides to publish the report.
It was also gathered authoritatively that when newsmen in Ekiti State were tipped that the case was filed at the high court of the state capital, they approached the VC for his comments on the development, but he declined any comment and also instructed his media aides not to publish any report on the matter because it would amount to a contempt of the court.
Apparently, the VC was toeing the honourable path of not making any effort to influence the decisions or activities of the court with any publication on the social media. This was also in apparent and wise adherence to the strict legal admonition handled out by the newly commissioned Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who had warned against anyone deliberating using the social media to influence on going court cases.
My efforts to reach Dr Omonijo to hear his own side of the story were to no avail as at the time of perming this piece. It becomes quite disturbing why such report should make its way into an online social media platform and be written in such a way to suggest that the VC or his media handle was aware of it when indeed such was not the case.
Reading between the lines, one deciphers that the contents of the report was crafted to clearly malign the personality of the VC as it dwelled more on frivolous and questionable allegations against the University’s CEO.
The publication therefore couldn’t have had the consent of the Vice-Chancellor nor any of his media aides and this is a clear indication that whoever sponsored it is seeking a public sympathy on a case he is probably aware could not favour him!.
A closer examination of the ill-conceived publication further convinces one that it was targeted at currying public sympathy for the ex-ASUU chairman in FUOYE, Dr Omonijo, owing to the fact that it made undue reference to his alleged ill-health, alleged non-payment of his salary arrears and purported promotion allegedly due him since he went into unproductive activism against the management of the university in 2018.
What the sponsor(s) of the ill-timed report has/ve failed to realize is that court cases are not won on the social media or the pages of the dailies. Astute legal professionals who understand the nitty-gritty of the Law and hold dear and sacred the proper legal procedures of litigations are involved and such dedicated and committed professionals do not compromise the standards nor do they engage in any kind of frivolities.
The sponsors of the ill-timed report are therefore advised to stop dissipating energies on fruitless ventures and face the stark reality of paying for their misdeeds and gross misconduct against the system. Media platforms must be careful of publishing stories that tend to appear as contempt of the court so as to avoid the wrath of the Law. A word, they say, is enough for the wise!
* Aduloju Ayomide, an investigative Reporter, writes from Lagos
