Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Scores of demonstrators, under the banner of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, stormed the National Assembly in Abuja on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, urging the Senate to suspend or outright reject the confirmation of Professor Abayomi Fasina as a non-career ambassadorial nominee over pending allegations of sexual harassment, human rights violations, and victimisation, which they said are currently before the courts. President Bola Tinubu had recently transmitted a list of ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation, but Fasina's nomination has continued to attract controversy, with several civil society groups insisting that the Senate should defer any confirmation until pending court cases against him are concluded.
The protesters, chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards bearing inscriptions such as "Suspend the Ambassadorial Appointment of Prof Fasina Now" and "Nigerian Senate, Don't Confirm Prof Abayomi Fasina's Ambassadorial Appointment," addressed journalists at the National Assembly complex, urging lawmakers to allow the judicial process to run its course before considering the nominee's confirmation. Adeyemo Amira, a legal practitioner who spoke on behalf of the coalition, said Fasina has pending cases before the National Industrial Court in Lagos and Abuja. While insisting that the protest was not driven by personal animosity, Amira urged the Senate to allow the judicial process to run its course before considering the nominee's confirmation. She stressed that the protesters were not asking the Senate to convict or prosecute Fasina, noting that only the courts have the constitutional responsibility to determine guilt or innocence.
The coalition's demand comes amid growing pressure from women's groups and civil society organisations, who have petitioned the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to decline the confirmation of the former FUOYE VC. Over 200 women and civil society groups, led by Womanifesto, have urged the Senate to suspend Fasina's ambassadorial confirmation over pending court cases and other unresolved issues while he was serving as VC. The petition, dated 25 June 2026 and addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio through the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello, was signed by Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Co-convener of Womanifesto, on behalf of over 200 organisations and prominent advocates. The coalition revealed that Prof Fasina is facing unresolved allegations bordering on sexual harassment, abuse of office, victimisation, human rights violations and workplace intimidation, adding that criminal proceedings instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), as well as civil matters before the National Industrial Court, are still before competent courts.
The petition argued that confirming Fasina while legal proceedings remain pending would undermine public confidence in Nigeria's accountability institutions and damage the country's international image. The petitioners noted that one of the allegations involves an alleged sexual harassment complaint reportedly supported by a 37-minute audio recording, while other legal proceedings relate to workplace victimisation and abuse of authority. According to the petitioners, ambassadorial appointments require individuals of "the highest standards of integrity and impeccable conduct," stressing that unresolved allegations of such magnitude should be fully determined before any confirmation process proceeds. They also referenced an earlier judgment against the administration led by Prof Fasina in a National Industrial Court case, which, according to the groups, found that the university breached an employee's right to a fair hearing and awarded damages against the institution.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition at the National Assembly, Amira maintained that the group would welcome the nominee's confirmation if he is cleared by the courts, but insisted that the Senate should postpone the process until the litigation is 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 said. The coalition further warned that if the Senate proceeds with the confirmation despite the pending court cases, they would continue their advocacy and consider notifying the country where the nominee may be posted as ambassador about the unresolved allegations. "We believe the Senate will do what is right. But if our appeal is ignored, we will continue to protest and speak up. We will also not hesitate to write to the country where he is to serve as ambassador to make them aware of the pending issues," Amira added.
Also speaking, the co-convener of the demonstration, Dr Ernest Ogaze, argued that the Senate should reject the nomination rather than merely suspend its confirmation. "We are saying clearly that the nomination of Professor Abayomi should be declined outright. We are not saying that it should even be suspended. It should be an outright decline," Ogaze said. He argued that confirming Fasina while the allegations remain before the court could damage Nigeria's international image. "The country's image stands to be wasted, to be devastated and impacted wrongly. We cannot afford to allow these things to keep going on," he said. He added that the nominee is facing two court cases relating to allegations of sexual harassment and that the matters are already before the courts. "He should not be confirmed for an ambassadorial position while allegations of sexual misconduct against him are still before the courts," Ogaze declared.
The petitioners cited Nigeria's obligations under the Constitution, including provisions safeguarding human dignity and freedom from discrimination, as well as international commitments under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). They urged the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to suspend consideration of Prof Fasina's nomination until all pending judicial proceedings have been concluded. Copies of the petition were also sent to the Chairman of the ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
As the Senate continues its screening of ambassadorial nominees, the protest and petitions have placed the confirmation of Professor Abayomi Fasina under intense public scrutiny. The coalition has made it clear that it will not relent in its advocacy, insisting that the Senate must not allow anyone facing grave allegations of sexual misconduct to represent Nigeria abroad. For now, the fate of Fasina's nomination rests with the Senate, which must decide whether to proceed with his confirmation or heed the calls for judicial due process to take its course before any decision is made.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments