Scores of demonstrators stormed the National Assembly in Abuja on Tuesday, urging the Senate to suspend the confirmation of Prof Abayomi Fasina as a non-career ambassadorial nominee.

The protesters based their demand on allegations of sexual harassment, human rights violations and victimisation, which they said are before the courts.

President Bola Tinubu recently transmitted the name of Fasina as an ambassadorial nominee to the Senate for screening and confirmation as part of efforts to fill Nigeria’s diplomatic missions abroad after months of vacancies.

His nomination has, however, continued to attract controversy, with several civil society groups insisting that the Senate should defer any confirmation until pending court cases against him are concluded.

The protesters, under the banner of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, chanted solidarity songs and displayed placards.

Addressing journalists at the National Assembly complex, Adeyemo Amira, a legal practitioner who spoke on behalf of the coalition, said Fasina had pending cases before the National Industrial Court in Lagos and Abuja.

While insisting that the protest was not driven by personal animosity, Amira urged the Senate to allow the judicial process to run its course before considering the nominee’s confirmation.

She also stressed that the protesters were not asking the Senate to convict or prosecute Fasina, noting that only the courts have the constitutional responsibility to determine guilt or innocence.

She said, “Our call to the Senate is clear. Where there are grave allegations such as sexual misconduct pending before a court, this is not the time to confirm such a person to represent Nigeria internationally.

“The Senate is not a court. Let the court do its job.

“We have no personal vendetta against Prof Abayomi Sunday Fasina. But this issue is bigger than one individual.”

Amira recalled a previous diplomatic nomination that reportedly drew international scrutiny due to allegations involving the nominee’s family, warning that Nigeria should avoid situations that could damage its reputation abroad.

She said the coalition was standing in solidarity with persons who have spoken out against sexual harassment, insisting that their voices deserved to be heard and protected.

“If he is cleared by the court, nobody will be happier than those of us advocating for justice. However, until that happens, we believe the Senate should hold on to the confirmation,” she added.

“We are saying clearly that the nomination of Professor Abayomi should be declined outright. We are not saying it should merely be suspended. It should be rejected,” Ogaze said.

According to him, confirming the nomination while the court cases remained unresolved could damage Nigeria’s international reputation.

“The country’s image stands to be negatively impacted. We cannot afford to allow these things to continue. Nigeria’s image is already facing challenges, and this would only make the situation worse. The National Assembly should decline this nomination without thinking twice,” he said.

Ogaze stated that the nominee was facing two court cases relating to allegations of sexual harassment, adding that the matters were already before the courts.

“Yes, we know that a person is innocent until proven guilty, but these are serious matters before competent courts and should not be taken for granted,” he said.

The coalition also cited what it described as a precedent involving a previous ambassadorial nomination.

Ogaze referred to the 2009 case involving Prof Tunde Adeniran, whose nomination as ambassador to the United States was not approved, arguing that the Senate should apply the same standard in the present case.

“There is a clear precedent, and I am calling on the National Assembly to do what is right by declining this nomination,” he said.

Also lending its voice, the Feminist Manifesto Conference called on the Senate to halt Fasina’s confirmation, citing pending criminal and civil cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct.

A representative of the women’s rights group, Emmanuella Azu, disclosed that the organisation had submitted petitions to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Senate committee handling the confirmation process, urging them to suspend the nomination.

Azu said confirming the appointment while the allegations remain before the courts would send the wrong message about Nigeria’s commitment to addressing sexual misconduct.

“I stand today on behalf of the Feminist Manifesto Conference, a coalition of over 500 civil society organisations. We are asking the Senate to halt the confirmation of Prof Abayomi Sunday Fasina.

“He should not be confirmed for an ambassadorial position while allegations of sexual misconduct against him are still before the courts,” she said.

Prof was the immediate-past Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti and was recently nominated by the President as a non-career ambassador.

His nomination has generated controversy following allegations by a senior university official, who accused him of sexual harassment, victimisation and abuse of office. Fasina has, however, consistently denied the allegations. (The PUNCH)

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