Protests Against Ambassadorial Nomination Highlight Concerns Over Judicial Process
A significant number of demonstrators gathered at the National Assembly in Abuja on Tuesday, demanding that the Senate suspend the confirmation of Prof Abayomi Fasina as a non-career ambassadorial nominee. The protesters raised concerns about allegations of sexual harassment, human rights violations, and victimisation against Fasina, which they claim are currently under judicial review.
President Bola Tinubu recently submitted Fasina’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation, aiming to fill vacancies in Nigeria’s diplomatic missions. However, the nomination has sparked controversy, with various civil society groups urging the Senate to delay any confirmation until the court cases against Fasina are resolved.
The protesters, organized under the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, demonstrated their solidarity by chanting songs and displaying placards. Adeyemo Amira, a legal practitioner representing the coalition, highlighted that Fasina faces pending cases before the National Industrial Court in Lagos and Abuja.
Amira emphasized that the protest was not driven by personal animosity but rather by a commitment to ensuring that the judicial process is respected. She clarified that the coalition was not seeking to convict or prosecute Fasina, stating that only the courts have the constitutional authority to determine guilt or innocence.
“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,” Amira said. “The Senate is not a court. Let the court do its job.”
She added that the issue extended beyond an individual, stating, “We have no personal vendetta against Prof Abayomi Sunday Fasina. But this issue is bigger than one individual.”
Amira also recalled a previous diplomatic nomination that drew international scrutiny due to allegations involving the nominee’s family, warning that Nigeria should avoid situations that could damage its reputation abroad. She stressed the importance of standing in solidarity with those who have spoken out against sexual harassment, noting that their voices deserved to be heard and protected.
“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 concluded.
Calls for Rejection of Nomination
Dr Ernest Ogaze, co-convener of the demonstration, argued that the Senate should reject the nomination rather than merely suspend its confirmation. He stated, “We are saying clearly that the nomination of Professor Abayomi should be declined outright. We are not saying it should merely be suspended. It should be rejected.”
Ogaze warned that confirming the nomination while the court cases remained unresolved could harm 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. The National Assembly should decline this nomination without thinking twice,” he said.
He noted that the nominee was facing two court cases related to allegations of sexual harassment, emphasizing that these matters were already before the courts. “Yes, we know that a person is innocent until proven guilty, but these are serious matters before competent courts and should not be taken for granted,” he added.
The coalition also cited a precedent involving a previous ambassadorial nomination. Ogaze referenced the 2009 case involving Prof Tunde Adeniran, whose nomination as ambassador to the United States was not approved. He urged the National Assembly to apply the same standard in the current case.
“There is a clear precedent, and I am calling on the National Assembly to do what is right by declining this nomination,” he said.
Feminist Manifesto Conference Joins the Call
The Feminist Manifesto Conference also called on the Senate to halt Fasina’s confirmation, citing pending criminal and civil cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct. A representative of the women’s rights group, Emmanuella Azu, disclosed that the organization had submitted petitions to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Senate committee handling the confirmation process, urging them to suspend the nomination.
Azu stated that confirming the appointment while the allegations remain before the courts would send the wrong message about Nigeria’s commitment to addressing sexual misconduct. “I stand today on behalf of the Feminist Manifesto Conference, a coalition of over 500 civil society organisations. We are asking the Senate to halt the confirmation of Prof Abayomi Sunday Fasina. He should not be confirmed for an ambassadorial position while allegations of sexual misconduct against him are still before the courts,” she said.
Prof Fasina was the immediate-past Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti and was recently nominated by the President as a non-career ambassador. His nomination has generated controversy following allegations by a senior university official, who accused him of sexual harassment, victimisation, and abuse of office. Fasina has consistently denied the allegations.
