Controversial Ex-FUOYE VC Fasina Confirmed as Ambassador

​The Nigerian Senate officially confirmed Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina as a non-career ambassador on Thursday, bringing a contentious screening process to a close despite vocal opposition from civil society groups and some lawmakers.

​The confirmation followed the adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, presented by Senator Simon Lalong. The committee, led by Senator Sani Bello, recommended the nominee after concluding that allegations against him were unsubstantiated. According to the committee’s findings, investigations conducted by both the Nigeria Police and the Governing Council of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE)—where Professor Fasina serves as Vice-Chancellor—found no merit to claims of sexual harassment, human rights violations, or victimisation.

​Senate President Godswill Akpabio defended the confirmation, urging his colleagues to prioritize verified facts over “hearsay.” He noted that the Senate’s decision was informed by reports from the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the university’s governing council.

​The confirmation process, however, remained highly polarized. During the plenary session, Senator Cyril Fasuyi (APC, Ekiti North), a member of the committee that vetted the nominee, publicly objected to the clearance, citing concerns regarding unresolved justice for alleged victims. Similarly, Senator Adams Oshiomhole voiced strong reservations, arguing that the Senate should not overlook the serious nature of the allegations.

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​The controversy stems from a campaign led by a coalition of civil society organisations, which stormed the National Assembly on July 7 to demand that the Senate reject the nomination. Protesters, represented by legal practitioner Adeyemo Amira, had argued that with court cases pending before the National Industrial Court in both Lagos and Abuja, the Senate should have deferred the confirmation to allow the judicial process to conclude. They maintained that confirming the nominee under a cloud of such grave allegations could undermine Nigeria’s credibility on the international stage.

​Despite these protests, the Senate proceeded with the confirmation, asserting that the evidence presented by investigative authorities cleared the path for the nominee to serve as a High Commissioner or Ambassador.