Ugbana Nonso
ABUJA — The Senate on Thursday confirmed the nomination of Prof. Abayomi Fasina, former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, FUOYE, as a non-career ambassador after a contentious debate over unresolved allegations of sexual misconduct levelled against him.
The confirmation came despite objections from some lawmakers and renewed calls by civil society organisations urging the upper legislative chamber to withhold its approval until the allegations were conclusively resolved.
The decision followed the presentation of a report by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which recommended the confirmation of the professor of soil science.
Presenting the report on behalf of Sani Bello, chairman of the committee, Simon Lalong, Senator representing Plateau South, said the panel had carefully screened the nominee and found no legal basis to reject his nomination.
Lalong said the committee received petitions both opposing and supporting Fasina’s nomination. He noted that the allegations had already been investigated by the FUOYE Governing Council and the Nigeria Police Force.
According to him, both institutions found the allegations to be unsubstantiated, while the Department of State Services, DSS, and the police also cleared the nominee.
“The committee received petition against the nominee as well as petition countering the petition against his nomination as ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
“The accusation against Professor Fasina was investigated by competent authorities, including the University Governing Council and the Nigerian Police, which found the allegations false.”
He added that with all the clearances, the nominee performed “wonderfully well, especially his record of service within the university.”
“The committee had no doubt in recommending that the senate confirm the nomination of Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina as a non-career ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Lalong stated.
Oshiomhole, Others Kick
However, Adams Oshiomhole, Senator representing Edo North, urged the Senate to suspend consideration of the nomination pending the resolution of the allegations before the courts.
While acknowledging that Fasina was entitled to the presumption of innocence, Oshiomhole argued that confirming him amid such accusations would send the wrong signal.
“I am aware, and it is of public knowledge, that this gentleman has been accused by two women,” he said.
“Nobody is saying he is guilty; he deserves to be innocent until proven guilty. But, as a matter of sensitivity, a man who faces cases like that, for the senate to endorse him, will amount to being insensitive to the feelings of women.
“I thought that in matters like this, it is even more prudent that we wait and ask the guy to clear himself before the courts.”
Cyril Fasuyi, Senator representing Ekiti North and a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, also urged the Senate to tread carefully.
