Protesters demand suspension of Fasina’s ambassadorial confirmation

Scores of protesters on Tuesday stormed the National Assembly in Abuja, demanding that the Senate suspend the confirmation of Prof Abayomi Fasina as a non-career ambassadorial nominee over allegations of sexual harassment, human rights violations and victimisation.

 

The protesters, under the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, argued that the Senate should defer consideration of Fasina’s nomination until pending court cases involving him are concluded.

 

President Bola Tinubu had recently forwarded Fasina’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation as part of efforts to fill vacant diplomatic positions after months of delays.

 

However, his nomination has sparked controversy, with several civil society groups calling on lawmakers to halt the process pending the outcome of legal proceedings.

 

The demonstrators marched to the National Assembly complex, chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards calling for justice.

 

Addressing journalists, a legal practitioner and representative of the coalition, Adeyemo Amira, said Fasina had ongoing cases before the National Industrial Court in Lagos and Abuja.

 

Amira stressed that the protest was not aimed at prejudging the nominee but was a call for due process.

 

“Our call to the Senate is clear. Where there are grave allegations such as sexual misconduct pending before a court, this is not the time to confirm such a person to represent Nigeria internationally.

 

“The Senate is not a court. Let the court do its job,” she said.

 

She added that the coalition was not asking the Senate to convict Fasina, noting that only the judiciary had the constitutional authority to determine guilt or innocence.

 

Amira said the group would welcome any outcome that clears the nominee of wrongdoing but maintained that confirmation should be delayed until the court processes are concluded.

 

“If he is cleared by the court, nobody will be happier than those of us advocating for justice. However, until that happens, we believe the Senate should hold on to the confirmation,” she added.

 

The co-convener of the demonstration, Dr Ernest Ogaze, however, called on the Senate to reject the nomination outright rather than suspend the confirmation process.

 

According to him, approving the appointment while the allegations remain unresolved could affect Nigeria’s international reputation.

 

“The country’s image stands to be negatively impacted. We cannot afford to allow these things to continue. Nigeria’s image is already facing challenges, and this would only make the situation worse,” Ogaze said.

 

He acknowledged the principle of presumption of innocence but argued that the allegations were serious enough to warrant caution from lawmakers.

 

The coalition also cited the 2009 case involving Prof Tunde Adeniran, whose ambassadorial nomination to the United States was not approved, as a precedent for the Senate to consider.

 

Meanwhile, the Feminist Manifesto Conference also urged the Senate to suspend Fasina’s confirmation, citing pending criminal and civil cases over allegations of sexual misconduct.

 

A representative of the group, Emmanuella Azu, said petitions had been submitted to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the relevant Senate committee, urging lawmakers to halt the process.

 

“He should not be confirmed for an ambassadorial position while allegations of sexual misconduct against him are still before the courts,” Azu said.

 

Fasina, who is the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, was recently nominated by President Tinubu as a non-career ambassador.

 

The former vice-chancellor has consistently denied the allegations of sexual harassment, victimisation and abuse of office levelled against him.