Senate Confirms Ex-FUOYE VC Amid Controversy
The Nigerian Senate on Thursday confirmed the appointment of former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Abayomi Fasina, as a non-career ambassador. The confirmation came after a voice vote at the Committee of the Whole, presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Mr Fasina, a professor, had earlier been screened by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Senator Sani Bello (Niger North), in line with the Senate's directive. However, his nomination faced opposition from civil society organisations (CSOs) and some senators due to sexual harassment allegations.
Allegations and Protests
On 7 July, a coalition of CSOs protested at the National Assembly, demanding the suspension of the screening and confirmation. The coalition cited allegations of sexual harassment, human rights violations, and victimisation against Mr Fasina, which are subjects of litigation before the National Industrial Court in Lagos and Abuja. The Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) reported that Mr Fasina allegedly sexually harassed a former colleague, Folasade Adebayo, an engineer and former deputy director at FUOYE, by pressuring her to accept his sexual advances. FIJ also reported that the university's Governing Council directed Mr Fasina to apologise to the complainant.
Committee Report and Defence
During Thursday's plenary, Senator Simon Lalong (Plateau South) presented the committee's screening report. He stated that the allegations against the nominee had been investigated by the lawmakers, the university's governing council, and the Nigerian Police, and were found to be unsubstantiated. "The accusation against Professor Fasina was investigated by competent authorities, including the university governing council and the Nigerian Police, and they both found the allegations to be false," Senator Lalong said. He also noted that the nominee had been cleared by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police. The committee recommended confirmation, finding the allegations baseless.
Senators Raise Concerns
Some senators opposed the confirmation. Senator Cyril Fasuyi (Ekiti North) told colleagues that the complainant personally approached him and urged the Senate to suspend consideration pending a fresh probe. "The woman approached and told me everything that happened, but this woman did not get judgment. There is nobody in Ekiti North that is not aware of this matter. If this man is given express clearance, I don't think it would be an issue that Ekiti, where he served as vice-chancellor, will be very happy about," he said.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) also urged suspension pending a court judgment. "A man who faces cases like that, for the Senate to endorse him, will amount to being insensitive to the feelings of women, because not just one woman, there are two women, on different allegations," he argued.
Defence of Nominee
Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno (Borno North) defended the committee's report, arguing that no one can be treated as guilty without evidence. He referenced Order 52(5) of the Senate Standing Rules on sub judice matters, cautioning against deliberating on issues before the courts. "A man is presumed innocent until the contrary is proved. We cannot halt our constitutional responsibility simply because of allegations," Monguno said.
Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) urged lawmakers to abide by the committee's findings, stating that the committee's purview is limited to evaluating mental ability, educational qualifications, and criminal convictions. "If there are allegations outside this purview, then it is not the business of a parliamentarian to bring this matter up for discussion," he said.
Akpabio's Ruling and Confirmation
Senate President Akpabio noted that the petitioner did not present evidence before the committee and failed to appear. "There was nothing before the committee and she failed to appear before the committee. So, for me, I have a report in front of me, which is conclusive," he said. He also questioned why Senator Fasuyi did not encourage the complainant to appear before the committee. Senator Fasuyi subsequently withdrew his objection, noting that no senator from Lagos State had opposed the nomination, as the nominee is from Lagos.
The Senate proceeded into the Committee of the Whole, where lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the committee's recommendation. Akpabio announced Mr Fasina's confirmation as a non-career ambassador. With the confirmation, Mr Fasina is expected to receive a diplomatic posting from the Presidency in the coming weeks.
