Following a report by SaharaReporters, a final-year student from the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti has successfully passed her course after previously failing due to alleged sexual harassment by her lecturer, Anthony Agbegbedia.
The student had accused Agbegbedia of deliberately failing her because she refused to submit to his sexual advances.
The story came to light when the student reported her plight to SaharaReporters, claiming Agbegbedia used his authority to retaliate against her for rejecting his inappropriate demands.
It was gathered that the student’s scripts were sent to an external lecturer for review. After reassessment, it was found that she had passed the course, but Dr Agbegbedia had deliberately failed her because she refused his advances.
A source told SaharaReporters on Thursday that the department has now been instructed to upload her correct score.
The source said, “Dr. Agbegbedia is guilty, but efforts were made to cover up his misconduct, as the university wants to avoid negative publicity, especially on platforms like SaharaReporters.”
In September, a final-year student from the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti has accused her lecturer, Anthony Agbegbedia, of failing her because she refused to submit to his sexual advances.
The student alleged that Agbegbedia gave her poor grades after she declined his advances.
She claimed that he repeatedly asked her out, and she was not willing to yield to him.
According to her, during their interactions, Agbegbedia asked her to meet him in Ado-Ekiti. She says she regularly made excuses to avoid these meetings throughout her first and second semesters of 400-Level (PCs 411 and PCs 414).
She also mentioned that Agbegbedia began bothering her from the first semester of her 300-Level until she stopped responding to his messages.
She and her father eventually reported the issue to the university by submitting a letter to the Dean of the Faculty of Science and another letter to the Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Oye-Ekiti.
In a letter dated August 20, 2024, obtained by SaharaReporters, the father of a student accused Dr Anthony Agbegbedia of sexually harassing his daughter.
The letter addressed to the Vice Chancellor of the school, states: “I wish to report a case of sexual harassment against my daughter by one of your staff members, Dr Anthony Agbegbedia of the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies.
“My daughter has reported that Dr. Agbegbedia harassed her after she refused his sexual advances in his course, PCS 411, during the first semester. As a result, she was failed in the course.
“She is now afraid that Dr Agbegbedia will likely fail her in PCS 414 for the second semester.”
The father requested: “I humbly seek an investigation into this matter and your intervention to ensure my daughter can graduate.
“I am writing this letter with the conviction that a prompt and thorough investigation will be conducted by you, as the Vice Chancellor.
“Evidence of sexual harassment is attached.”
“If I do not hear from you within two weeks, I will not hesitate to take legal action and make the evidence public,” he added.
When contacted by SaharaReporters, Dr Anthony Agbegbedia had alleged that some people were trying to blackmail him for reasons unknown to him.
He said, “Let’s assume they’ve written a petition to the Vice-Chancellor (VC).
“But if they have written a petition to the school, then the school will definitely act on it. The school will investigate because I always mark students’ scripts with a marking guide.
“In my life, I have never told any student that unless they have sex with me, they will not pass. I have not done that, and I don’t think I ever would it. This is just a cheap attempt to blackmail me.
“If a student feels that they have failed my course, they have the right to request their scripts to be sent to an external examiner for remarking.
“I’m not sure what level the student is at, but I know they have the right to request for their scripts. The scripts will be sent to an external examiner for review because this is a disciplinary procedure. So, I believe this is just cheap blackmail.”
When asked if the school management had called him to face any panel, he responded, “The school is on holiday. Maybe that’s why they haven’t reached out to me yet.”
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters also obtained a history of the alleged chats between the accused lecturer and the student, in which he persuaded her to succumb to his sexual advances.
When SaharaReporters contacted the school’s vice chancellor, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, he confirmed the receipt of the petition, adding that actions had been taken.
He said, “The matter is under investigation, and a panel has been set up to address it. Please be patient. Once something is under investigation, we hear from both sides, and nothing will be covered up. We have handled similar cases before and dealt with the concerned parties.”
The Vice-Chancellor said, “We have the facts and records, and it is important to follow due process. If someone raises an allegation, it must be investigated. After the investigation, the matter will be forwarded to the appropriate committees.
“As vice chancellor, I aim to give everyone a fair hearing. I am neutral in this matter. It is important not to discuss it prematurely, especially if it is in court, as this could be prejudicial.”
“I assure you that the matter will be handled with the seriousness it deserves and that there will be no problem,” he added.
