A lecturer in the Department of Animal Sciences, University of Abuja Prof. Rasheed Adebayo has threatened to sue online media outfit Sahara Reporters over a publication in its edition of April 30, 2025 which he said was libelous and defamed his character.
The report, published April 30, 2025 had claimed that the Minister of Education Dr. Olatunji Alausa is behind moves to install the Prof. as VC of Federal University Dutsinma in Katsina State, and referred to Prof. Adebayo as ‘an academic whose appointment was previously terminated for gross misconduct’.
Professor Adebayo who is highly vexed by the report, told this reporter, “My immediate reaction as I went through the story was, this is completely untrue, completely untrue.”
He said he also observed that the report bore no reporter’s identity.
“If a story is about a Minister of Education who is supervising that University, and the story quoted ‘sources’ in the University, I expected the University to take exception to that report, if not, it means that the University is liable,” he said, adding, “but up till this moment that I am talking to you, the University has remained silent.”
The Professor insists that Sahara Reporters retract the report or face litigation, pointing out that the publication ought to have investigated further the character of the person referred to in the story before publishing the report.
Forwarding relevant documents to this reporter, Prof. Rasheed asserted that he was never sacked from FUDMA, but had left the University after securing new appointment with University of Abuja, adding that he had even paid the mandatory three months in lieu of notice to FUDMA before leaving to resume work in University of Abuja.
Prof. Adebayo is recognized in academic circles as an international scholar of repute.
He said he was forced to leave FUDMA after series of harassment and victimization by FUDMA Vice Chancellor, Prof. Arma-Yau Hamisu Bichi, including being falsely accused of dragging the VC, the University Governing Council and other relevant bodies to court over processes that led to his (Bichi’s) appointment as FUDMA VC.
Following his application, he said, the University of Abuja had requested from Dutsin-ma his status with the latter institution.
In a letter to the University of Abuja dated May 17, 2023, FUDMA had confirmed that he had no unresolved issues with the institution, and issued him a letter of transfer to his new employers the Abuja University.
Dr. Rasheed said he became shocked when the same FUDMA later disclaimed him in communications with the Abuja University.
He cited several other cases of unfair treatment he suffered at the instance of Prof. Bichi, including the VC’s determination to frustrate his efforts to succeed him in spite of his being the most qualified of the 72 applicants for the job. He accused the outgoing Vice Chancellor of employing all manners of tricks to unfairly deny him the opportunity.
