A former Head of Department of Early Childhood Care and Education at the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), Mr. Fowowe Simeon Sunday, has been suspended for another six months over a 2021 rape incident involving a student.

This is despite having earlier been exonerated by a university panel and the actual perpetrator already convicted and jailed.

SaharaReporters gathered that Fowowe, who is also a prominent member of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in LASUED, was re-suspended following a fresh query issued by the university management in November 2025, a development sources within the institution described as a targeted witch-hunt linked to internal union politics.

The rape incident occurred on October 11, 2021, when a part-time lecturer, Mr. Kolawole Muyiwa, allegedly sexually assaulted a female student inside an office allocated to Fowowe, who was then Head of Department (HOD), Early Childhood Care and Education, in the College of Specialised and Professional Education.

Sources said the office was being shared by Fowowe and another staff member, Mr. Asimolowo Muyiwa, and that Kolawole Muyiwa, though a part-time lecturer at the time, frequently used the space.

It was gathered that Fowowe was not on campus on the day of the incident, as he had travelled for the burial of his late mother with official approval from the Vice-Chancellor.

Following the incident, Kolawole Muyiwa was arrested, prosecuted and eventually convicted by a Lagos High Court in February 2025. He is currently serving a jail term.

However, SaharaReporters learnt that Fowowe was also issued a query in 2021 for allegedly allowing his office to be used for the commission of the crime and was suspended for six months.

A disciplinary panel was subsequently set up to investigate his role in the matter and reportedly exonerated him of any wrongdoing.

Despite this, the university management again issued Fowowe another query dated November 13, 2025, signed by the Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Opeoluwa Akinfemiwa, the university demanded that Mr. Fowowe justify why he should not face dismissal.

The document, titled “Query on the use of your office for a criminal act of misconduct Involving a Student contrary to the University’s Conditions of service,” links Fowowe to the fallout of the February 2025 conviction of Kolawole Muyiwa.

The query states: “The attention of the University management has been drawn to a judgment of the High Court No 48, delivered by the Honourable Justice R. A Oshodi at Ikeja on Thursday, 27th day of February, 2025, that a non-staff individual, one Mr Kolawole Muyiwa unlawfully used your office as the Head of Department (HOD) Early Childhood Education to sexually assault a student of this institution…”

The management further asserted that the incident reflects a failure of leadership on Fowowe’s part:

“The University views this incident as a grave breach of security and duty of care, particularly as it occurred within your assigned office space. Preliminary findings indicate that the assailant gained access to your office under circumstances that raise concerns about your level of supervision, control, and adherence to University rules…”

The Registrar’s letter gave Mr. Fowowe a 48-hour ultimatum to respond to four specific charges, warning that silence would be interpreted as a confession of guilt. The query directed Fowowe to state:

“i. Whether you granted access to the said non-staff individual, or you were aware of their presence in your office;”

“ii. The measures you had in place to secure your office and prevent unauthorized entry;”

“iii. Your role(s) during and after the alleged criminal act(s); and”

“iv. Any other relevant information that may assist Management in determining the extent of your responsibility…”

The query concluded with a stern warning: “Please note that failure to respond to this query within the stipulated time shall be deemed as acceptance of responsibility and appropriate disciplinary action may be taken against you in line with the University’s Conditions of Service and Public Service Rules on misconduct and negligence of duty.”

Sources told SaharaReporters that shortly after responding to the query, Fowowe was placed on another six-month suspension over the same allegation.

Staff members who spoke to SaharaReporters on Monday, described the second suspension as punitive, vindictive and politically motivated.

“The university had already investigated this matter years ago and cleared him,” a senior academic staff member said. “The offender has been convicted and is in prison. Bringing back the same issue is clearly an attempt to victimise Comrade Fowowe because of his role in ASUU.”

According to multiple sources, Fowowe is a vocal figure in the LASUED ASUU chapter and has been actively involved in union mobilisation and leadership struggles within the institution.

They alleged that the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bidemi Balikis Lafiaji-Okuneye, is targeting outspoken union members in order to weaken opposition and influence the emergence of preferred candidates in ASUU leadership.

“Because of the ASUU election and Comrade Fowowe’s vibrancy in union activities, management believes that punishing him again will help their plan of installing a puppet as ASUU chairman,” a source said.

Another staff member described the development as “double jeopardy.”

“He has been punished once, investigated and cleared. The real criminal is in jail. Yet he is being punished again for the same offence,” the source said.

Efforts by SaharaReporters to reach the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Lafiaji-Okuneye, and the university’s Public Relations Unit for comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

The development has further deepened concerns among staff about alleged repression, abuse of disciplinary procedures and shrinking space for union activities within the Lagos State-owned institution.

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