Senate Under Fire as 300 CSOs Demand Rejection of Ex-VC’s Ambassadorial Nomination

ABUJA — The Nigerian Senate is facing mounting pressure to reject the ambassadorial nomination of Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), as a coalition of over 300 civil society organisations and prominent activists petitions lawmakers to withhold his confirmation.

The move comes amid ongoing criminal and civil proceedings against the academic, who has been accused of sexual harassment, abuse of office, and workplace victimisation during his tenure as VC.

The petition, dated 25 June 2026, has been signed by a who’s who of Nigerian civil society, including former Minister of Education Dr Oby Ezekwesili, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Yiaga Africa, Bring Back Our Girls, and Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria. Women’s rights organisations including the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Project Alert on Violence Against Women, and Stand to End Rape (STER) have also lent their weight to the campaign.

The coalition has urged the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to decline recommending Fasina’s confirmation “until all ongoing criminal and civil proceedings against him have been finally determined by competent courts”.

‘Higher Standard of Integrity’ Required

In their petition addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio through Committee Chairman Senator Abubakar Sani Bello, the groups argued that while every citizen enjoys the constitutional presumption of innocence, ambassadorial appointments demand a higher threshold of integrity.

“An ambassador serves as a representative of a nation’s identity and values. Given this important role, any candidate must embody the highest standards of integrity and impeccable conduct,” the petition stated.

The organisations warned that confirming a nominee facing unresolved allegations of sexual harassment could expose Nigeria to “international embarrassment” and erode public confidence in institutions.

Among the allegations listed against Fasina are sexual harassment of a female staff member, supported by a 37-minute audio recording which forms part of evidence in ongoing proceedings before the National Industrial Court.

Legal Battles Mount

The petitioners noted that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) investigated the complaints and subsequently commenced criminal proceedings against Fasina, which remain pending before a court of competent jurisdiction.

Separate civil proceedings involving allegations of sexual harassment and workplace victimisation are also pending before the National Industrial Court in both its Abuja and Ikoyi divisions.

The coalition also cited the judgment in Akingbe v. FUOYE (NICN/AK/58/2018), where the National Industrial Court held that the university under Fasina’s administration breached the claimant’s right to fair hearing, awarding N40 million in damages against the institution.

In April 2025, Fasina obtained an interim order from the Federal High Court in Lagos restraining the ICPC from arresting or taking further action against him pending the hearing of his suit challenging the investigation.

University Group Fights Back

However, a group known as the FUOYE Progressives – comprising students, alumni and staff members – has dismissed the campaign as a “politically motivated attempt” to frustrate Fasina’s nomination.

Dr Kehinde Alao, spokesperson for the group, maintained that allegations of sexual harassment and administrative misconduct had been investigated and that Fasina was cleared by relevant authorities.

He said investigations by the police and two successive Governing Councils of FUOYE, including one chaired by former Senate Leader Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, found no evidence of wrongdoing.

International Obligations Cited

The coalition argued that confirming the nominee would send an adverse signal about Nigeria’s commitment to tackling sexual harassment and gender-based violence, contrary to obligations under Sections 34 and 42 of the Constitution and international conventions including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

“The issue before this Committee concerns public confidence in the rule of law. It concerns the credibility of Nigeria’s commitment to accountability, human rights and dignity, gender equality and institutional integrity,” the petition 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.

Fasina has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The Senate is yet to respond to the petition as the screening of ambassadorial nominees continues.