The Senate on Thursday confirmed Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina as a non-career ambassadorial nominee despite objections from some lawmakers and opposition from civil society groups.
The confirmation followed the adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which recommended Fasina’s appointment as a Non-Career Ambassador and High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Presenting the report, the committee’s Vice Chairman, Senator Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South), urged the Senate to approve the nomination.
“That the Senate do receive and consider the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the confirmation of the nomination of Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina for appointment as Non-Career Ambassador/High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Lalong said.
Debate on the report divided the chamber, with some senators expressing concerns over the nomination, while others, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), supported the committee’s recommendation.
Although Senator Cyril Fasuyi (APC, Ekiti North), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, had signed the report recommending Fasina’s confirmation, he raised objections during plenary.
Responding to the concerns, the committee said allegations previously made against the nominee had been investigated by the Governing Council of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti and the Nigeria Police Force.
According to the committee, the investigations found no evidence to support the allegations.
“The accusation against Professor Fasina was investigated by competent authorities, including the University Governing Council and the Nigeria Police, which both found the allegation false,” the report stated.
Supporting the committee’s position, Senate President Akpabio urged lawmakers to base their decisions on verified findings rather than speculation.
“Honourable senators, we must take our assignments with respect and must not rely on hearsay,” he said.
Fasina’s confirmation comes a week after a coalition of civil society organisations staged a protest at the National Assembly, urging the Senate to suspend consideration of his nomination.
The coalition asked lawmakers to defer the confirmation, citing allegations of sexual harassment, human rights violations and victimisation, which they said were the subject of pending court cases.
Speaking for the protesters, legal practitioner Adeyemo Amira argued that the nominee had ongoing cases before the National Industrial Court in Lagos and Abuja and urged the Senate to await the outcome of the judicial process before making a decision.
President Bola Tinubu had recently transmitted a list of ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation as part of efforts to fill Nigeria’s diplomatic missions, many of which have remained vacant for several months.
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