A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) has urged the Senate to reject the ambassadorial nomination of the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Professor Abayomi Fasina, over allegations of sexual misconduct.
Members of the coalition staged a protest at the National Assembly on Tuesday, calling on lawmakers to suspend Fasina’s confirmation until the pending court cases against him are concluded.
Speaking to journalists during the protest, the coalition’s convener, Amirah Adeyemo, said the issue goes beyond one individual and concerns Nigeria’s international reputation.
“As concerned Nigerians, we are here to state our position to the Senate,” she said.
“We are here not because we have any personal vendetta against Professor Abayomi Fasina, but because this has gone beyond just one individual.”
Adeyemo urged the Senate not to allow anyone facing what she described as “grave allegations” to represent Nigeria abroad.
“Our call to the Senate is clear: let no one facing such grave allegations, including sexual misconduct, go forward to represent our country and tarnish the integrity that the nation has built over the years in the global space,” she said.
She recalled a similar incident in 2009 involving a former ambassadorial nominee, Professor Wole Adeniran.
“This has happened before, in 2009, with Professor Adeniran. However, Professor Adeniran was not the person accused of the alleged sexual misconduct. It was his son.
“The country where he was to serve as Nigeria’s ambassador rejected him because of his proximity to the person facing the allegation.”
Adeyemo stressed that the coalition was not asking the Senate to determine Fasina’s guilt but to allow the judicial process to take its course before confirming his nomination.
“The Senate is not a court.
“We are not presuming anybody guilty or asking the Senate to prosecute anyone.
“We are simply saying there should be a hold on the confirmation of Professor Abayomi Fasina’s nomination.
“As Nigerians, we owe every citizen the opportunity to speak up and know that their voices are heard.
“Everyone who has spoken up against sexual harassment should know that their voices will not be silenced because someone else is more powerful.
“We are all equal in Nigerian society.
“Let the court run its course. Let the court clear him.
“Nobody would be happier than those fighting for justice if he is cleared and his nomination is eventually considered.
“However, until he is cleared, such a nomination should not be confirmed.”
She warned that the coalition would petition the country where Fasina is nominated to serve if the Senate proceeds with his confirmation before the legal proceedings are concluded.
“If the Senate does not do what is right, we will not hesitate to write to the country where he is being nominated as ambassador to inform them of the injustice being perpetrated in our society,” she added.
Also speaking, the coalition’s co-convener, Ernest Ogezi, urged the Senate to reject the nomination outright.
“We are saying clearly that the nomination of Professor Fasina should be declined outright,” he said.
