Fresh controversy has emerged around the ambassadorial nomination of the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Professor Abayomi Fasina, following a protest at the National Assembly by civil society groups urging the Senate to suspend his confirmation until pending court cases against him are concluded.
The demonstrators, operating under the banner of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, converged on the National Assembly complex in Abuja, carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs while appealing to lawmakers not to proceed with the confirmation of the former university administrator as a non-career ambassador. The protesters argued that unresolved allegations currently before the courts should be allowed to run their legal course before any diplomatic appointment is considered.
The nomination of Fasina has attracted sustained public attention within Nigeria’s higher education sector following President Bola Tinubu’s decision to forward his name to the Senate for confirmation as part of the Federal Government’s latest ambassadorial appointments. Under Nigeria’s Constitution, all ambassadorial nominees must be screened and confirmed by the Senate before assuming office.
Addressing journalists during the demonstration, legal practitioner Adeyemo Amira, who spoke on behalf of the coalition, maintained that the protest was not driven by personal interests but by concerns about Nigeria’s international image and the need to uphold integrity in public appointments. She argued that the Senate should allow the judicial process to determine the pending cases before taking any decision on the nomination.
Amira emphasised that the coalition was neither seeking to convict the former vice-chancellor nor asking lawmakers to assume the role of the courts. According to her, the appeal is simply for the Senate to exercise caution by postponing the confirmation process until the legal proceedings have been concluded.
She further stated that the coalition would welcome the confirmation if the courts eventually clear the nominee of all allegations, stressing that respect for due process remains the group’s primary objective. However, she warned that confirming the appointment before the conclusion of the cases could send an inappropriate signal regarding accountability in public service.
Co-convener of the protest, Dr. Ernest Ogaze, also called on lawmakers to reject the nomination, arguing that unresolved litigation involving allegations of sexual misconduct could negatively affect Nigeria’s international reputation if the appointment proceeds. He acknowledged the constitutional principle that every accused person remains innocent until proven guilty but insisted that the pending cases justify legislative caution.
The demonstration also received support from the Feminist Manifesto Conference, whose representative, Emmanuella Azu, disclosed that the organisation had submitted petitions to the Senate President and the Senate Committee handling the confirmation process. She argued that allowing the legal proceedings to conclude before confirmation would reinforce public confidence in accountability and justice.
The development represents another chapter in the prolonged controversies surrounding the former FUOYE Vice-Chancellor, whose tenure attracted widespread public attention within Nigeria’s university system. The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs is expected to conclude its screening process before presenting its recommendations to the Senate for a final decision on the nomination.
