Staff and students of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) on Wednesday mobilised to the residence of the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, after police officers reportedly arrived to arrest him.   The incident occurred in Ado-Ekiti, where members of the university community gathered at Ogunwole’s official residence and opposed the alleged arrest. Ogunwole said the policemen arrived at about 6:10am, shortly after he had gone to bed around 3am. According to him, his children alerted him after noticing security personnel around the residence. The Vice-Chancellor said he initially refused to come out because he was unsure whether the men were genuine police officers and wanted clarification on why they were at his residence. He said the police team later informed him that they had a warrant, but he insisted on being properly informed of the basis for the arrest. Ogunwole linked the development to a petition allegedly filed by individuals connected with the university, including immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, and former Dean of the Faculty of Law, Dr Kehinde Adeola. According to him, the dispute followed an audio recording which allegedly leaked and led the university management to ask those involved to appear before an investigative committee. He said the matter had subsequently gone to court and that he had also petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over alleged threats to his life and workplace. Ogunwole said he had directed his lawyers to approach the police to explain that the matter was already before the court and that he was available to respond to any lawful invitation. He also recalled honouring an earlier police invitation over another petition, saying he appeared with his lawyers, was questioned for several hours and was later released on self-recognisance. “Somebody of my calibre would not run away anywhere. Rather than surrounding my house, there are other better approaches to invite me,” he said. Despite the development, Ogunwole said he remained committed to his administration’s plans to reposition FUOYE. “There is no turning back. Our mission to create a new face for FUOYE. No U-turn, no diversion. We are resolute,” he said. The FUOYE branch chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr Ojo Fagbuagun, said the union members were at the residence to oppose what he described as attempts to intimidate the Vice-Chancellor. Fagbuagun alleged that some individuals linked to the previous administration were opposed to changes being introduced by Ogunwole. He also alleged irregularities including illegal promotion, abnormal promotion and mismanagement of funds, but did not provide evidence for the claims during the interview. The chairman of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), FUOYE branch, Comrade Oluwashola Babafemi, said members were at the residence to support the university’s administration and protect what he described as the institution’s peace and progress. The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) branch secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Adegun, said members were alerted that police officers had arrived at the Vice-Chancellor’s residence and might take him away. He said the union subsequently mobilised to the residence to show solidarity with Ogunwole.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded Adeniyi Adeyemi in Kuje Correctional Centre after he pleaded not guilty to an eight-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy and forgery.   Justice Mohammed Umar ordered Adeyemi’s remand on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, after the prosecution, led by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, requested an accelerated hearing of the case. The charges were filed against Adeyemi and two other suspects who are currently at large. Adeyemi, who has been accused of presenting himself as the Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), denied the allegations when the charges were read to him. His lawyer, Genesis Francis, asked the court to hear his client’s bail application on Wednesday, citing a medical appointment scheduled for Friday for an unspecified ailment which he said was contagious. However, lead prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo told the court that the police had qualified medical personnel who could attend to Adeyemi and that medical facilities were available at the correctional centre. Justice Umar declined to hear the bail application on Wednesday, citing the volume of matters before the court. The judge subsequently adjourned the case until October 12 for hearing of Adeyemi’s bail application and the substantive suit. Background to the PFIPC case Adeyemi became the focus of controversy after presenting himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC, an organisation the Presidency has said was not legally established. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) later said its investigation found that Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government and that documents allegedly used to support his appointment were forged. The commission recommended his prosecution. The case has also involved separate scrutiny by the House of Representatives and allegations concerning the payment of hundreds of millions of naira linked to Adeyemi’s purported appointment. Adeyemi has denied wrongdoing and maintained that he is prepared to defend himself in court. The eight-count criminal case was filed in November 2025. In July, Justice Umar issued a bench warrant after Adeyemi repeatedly failed to appear for arraignment, and police subsequently arrested him in Osun State. The latest proceedings mark a further step in the criminal case, with the court now scheduled to consider Adeyemi’s bail application and the substantive matter on October 12.

Covenant University, the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos have emerged as Nigeria’s highest-ranked universities in the 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.   The three institutions were placed in the 801–1000 global ranking band, according to the latest rankings published by Times Higher Education on Wednesday. Nigeria recorded 29 ranked universities in the 2027 edition, an increase from 24 institutions in the 2026 rankings. Five universities were newly ranked, including Osun State University, the University of Maiduguri, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Kwara State University and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. Covenant University returned to the top position among Nigerian institutions after ranking third in the 2026 edition, when the University of Ibadan and University of Lagos jointly occupied the highest Nigerian position. Ahmadu Bello University and Bayero University followed the three leading institutions, ranking fourth and fifth respectively among Nigerian universities. The Times Higher Education rankings assess research-intensive universities using 17 performance indicators across five broad areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry. According to THE, the 2027 rankings cover 2,297 institutions across 118 countries and territories. Globally, the University of Oxford retained the number one position for an 11th consecutive year. In sub-Saharan Africa, the University of Cape Town was the highest-ranked institution, rising to joint 147th position from joint 164th in the previous edition. THE said the number of ranked universities in sub-Saharan Africa increased from 55 in 2026 to 69 in 2027, with Nigeria recording the highest number of ranked institutions at 29. The ranking also highlighted different areas of institutional performance. The University of Lagos recorded Nigeria’s highest quality research score at 67.8, while Bayero University was ranked highest among Nigerian institutions for international outlook. Covenant University recorded the highest industry score in Nigeria. Full list of ranked Nigerian universities 1. Covenant University — 801–1000 2. University of Ibadan — 801–1000 3. University of Lagos — 801–1000 4. Ahmadu Bello University — 1001–1200 5. Bayero University — 1001–1200 6. Landmark University — 1001–1200 7. University of Ilorin — 1001–1200 8. Babcock University — 1201–1400 9. Osun State University — 1201–1400 10. University of Nigeria, Nsukka — 1201–1400 11. Federal University of Technology, Minna — 1401–1600 12. Nnamdi Azikiwe University — 1401–1600 13. Obafemi Awolowo University — 1401–1600 14. University of Benin — 1401–1600 15. University of Jos — 1401–1600 16. University of Maiduguri — 1401–1600 17. Federal University of Technology, Akure — 1601–1800 18. Federal University of Technology, Owerri — 1801–2000 19. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology — 1801–2000 20. Lagos State University — 1801–2000 21. Olabisi Onabanjo University — 1801–2000 22. University of Calabar — 1801–2000 23. Delta State University, Abraka — 2001+ 24. Ekiti State University — 2001+ 25. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta — 2001+ 26. Federal University Oye-Ekiti — 2001+ 27. Kwara State University — 2001+ 28. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike — 2001+ 29. University of Port Harcourt — 2001+ PUNCH Online reported the rankings, noting that institutions must meet THE’s eligibility requirements to receive a ranking. These include teaching undergraduates, producing research across a range of subjects and publishing at least 1,000 research publications between 2021 and 2025, with a minimum of 100 publications annually.