Scores of demonstrators on Tuesday stormed the National Assembly, Abuja, urging the Senate to suspend the confirmation of Professor Abayomi Fasina as a non-career ambassadorial nominee over allegations of sexual harassment, human rights violations and victimisation.
President Bola Tinubu recently transmitted a list of ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation to fill Nigeria’s diplomatic missions abroad after months of vacancies.
Fasina’s nomination has continued to attract controversy, with several civil society groups insisting that the Senate should defer confirmation until pending court cases against him are concluded.
The protesters, under the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, chanted solidarity songs and displayed placards with inscriptions such as “Suspend the Ambassadorial Appointment of Prof Fasina Now” and “Nigerian Senate, Don’t Confirm Prof Abayomi Fasina’s Ambassadorial Appointment.”
Addressing journalists, legal practitioner Adeyemo Amira, who spoke for the coalition, said Fasina has pending cases before the National Industrial Court in Lagos and Abuja.
“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,” Amira said.
She stressed that the protest was not driven by personal animosity and that the coalition was not asking the Senate to convict Fasina, noting that only the courts can determine guilt or innocence.
Amira warned that if the Senate proceeds with the confirmation despite the pending cases, the coalition would continue its advocacy and may notify the country where the nominee may be posted as ambassador about the unresolved allegations.
“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.
Also speaking, co-convener Dr Ernest Ogaze said the Senate should reject the nomination outright.
“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 said.
