The Senate on Thursday confirmed Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina as a non-career ambassador despite objections from some lawmakers and protests by civil society organisations over his nomination.
Lawmakers approved the nomination after considering and adopting the report of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs during plenary.
The committee is chaired by Senator Sani Bello, while Senator Simon Lalong serves as its Vice Chairman.
Committee recommends Fasina’s confirmation
Presenting the report, Lalong urged the Senate to approve Fasina’s appointment as a Non-Career Ambassador and High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He asked lawmakers to adopt the committee’s recommendation after reviewing the nominee’s credentials and findings from the screening process.
The recommendation sparked debate on the Senate floor, with lawmakers expressing differing opinions before the final vote.
Senators express differing opinions
Some senators raised concerns over the nomination and questioned whether the confirmation should proceed.
Others, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central, defended the committee’s recommendation and urged colleagues to support it.
Interestingly, Senator Cyril Fasuyi, who signed the committee’s report recommending Fasina’s confirmation, later expressed reservations during plenary.
Despite the differing views, the Senate eventually adopted the report and confirmed Fasina’s appointment.
Committee says investigations cleared nominee
The Foreign Affairs Committee maintained that competent authorities had already investigated the allegations previously made against Fasina.
According to the report, both the Governing Council of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti and the Nigeria Police Force examined the allegations independently.
The committee concluded that the investigations did not establish evidence to support the claims against the nominee.
“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.”
Supporting the committee’s position, Akpabio urged lawmakers to rely on verified reports instead of unverified allegations.
“Honourable senators, we must take our assignments with respect and must not rely on hearsay.”
Civil society groups opposed nomination
Fasina’s confirmation came one week after a coalition of civil society organisations protested at the National Assembly over his nomination.
The protesters urged senators to suspend the confirmation process until ongoing legal proceedings involving the nominee had been concluded.
They cited allegations of sexual harassment, human rights violations and victimisation, arguing that the issues remained before the courts.
Speaking for the coalition, legal practitioner Adeyemo Amira appealed to lawmakers to allow the judiciary determine the pending cases before confirming the appointment.
Despite the protests and objections raised during plenary, the Senate adopted the committee’s report and confirmed Fasina as a non-career ambassador.
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