Despite Protest, Senate Confirms Prof. Abayomi Fasina, former FUOYE VC, as Ambassador

Despite widespread public umbrage against his nomination over alleged sexual misconduct, the Nigerian Senate, Thursday, confirmed Abayomi Sunday Fasina, a professor of soil science and former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekit (FUOYE)i, Ekiti State, as a non-career ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Many influential voices in Nigeria, several lawmakers, and civil society organisations, CSOs, had vehemently opposed the nomination of Prof.  Fasina by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over past sexual harassment allegations that had dogged his tenure as VC.

His nomination as ambassador-designate drew the ire of some CSOs who organized protests at the National Assembly, urging the lawmakers to roundly reject him.

But on Thursday, the Senate thrashed all protests against the nominee and confirmed his appointment as a non-career ambassador. The confirmation followed the consideration and adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs chaired by Senator Sani Bello.

Senator Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South), who presented the committee’s report at Thursday’s plenary, urged the Senate to approve Fasina’s nomination for appointment as a non-career ambassador/high commissioner.

Expectedly, the report generated hot debate on the floor of the Senate, with some lawmakers, like Senator Adams Oshiomhole, raising serious objections while others backed the recommendation.

Senator Cyril Fasuyi (APC, Ekiti North), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, also expressed strong reservations against Fasina’s nomination.

But the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Abdul Ningi, supported the committee’s recommendation, arguing that the Senate should rely on the findings of relevant investigative authorities.

The committee maintained that the allegations made against Fasina had been investigated by the governing council of his university and the police, and both concluded that the claims were unsubstantiated.

“The accusation against Professor Fasina was investigated by competent authorities, including the University Governing Council and the Nigeria Police, which both found the allegation false,” the committee said.

Akpabio commended the committee for relying on reports from the Nigeria Police, the DSS and the university’s governing council in reaching its recommendation.

He urged senators to base their decisions on verified facts rather than unsubstantiated allegations.

“Honourable senators, we must take our assignments with respect and must not rely on hearsay,” Akpabio told the lawmakers.

Fasina’s confirmation comes days after a coalition of civil society organisations staged a protest at the National Assembly, calling on the Senate to suspend his screening and confirmation.

The protesters cited allegations of sexual harassment, human rights violations and victimisation and argued that the nominee had pending cases before the National Industrial Court in Lagos and Abuja.

They urged lawmakers to allow the judicial process to run its course before confirming his appointment.

Despite the objections, the Senate adopted the committee’s report and confirmed Fasina’s appointment as a non-career ambassador.