Upper chamber approves unconventional envoy nominee over objections

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The Senate on Thursday confirmed Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina as a non-career ambassadorial nominee despite opposition from some lawmakers and recent protests by civil society organisations over his nomination.

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The confirmation followed the consideration and adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Senator Sani Bello (APC, Niger North).

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Presenting the report, the committee’s Vice Chairman, Senator Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South), urged the Senate to approve Fasina’s nomination for appointment as a Non-Career Ambassador/High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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He said, “That the Senate do receive and consider the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the confirmation of the nomination of Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina for appointment as Non-Career Ambassador/High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

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Deliberations on the report divided the chamber, with some senators expressing reservations over the nomination, while others, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), supported the committee’s recommendation.

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Senator Cyril Fasuyi (APC, Ekiti North), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee who signed the report recommending Fasina’s confirmation, also raised objections during plenary.

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However, the committee maintained that allegations previously made against the nominee had been investigated by the relevant authorities, including the Governing Council of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti and the Nigeria Police Force.

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According to the committee, the investigations did not substantiate the allegations.

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“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,” the report stated.

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Backing the committee’s recommendation, Akpabio urged lawmakers to rely on verified reports rather than unverified claims.

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“Honourable senators, we must take our assignments with respect and must not rely on hearsay,” he said.

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Fasina’s confirmation came a week after a coalition of civil society organisations protested at the National Assembly, urging the Senate to suspend consideration of his nomination.

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The protesters asked lawmakers to defer the confirmation, citing allegations of sexual harassment, human rights violations and victimisation, which they said were the subject of pending court cases.

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Speaking on behalf of the coalition, legal practitioner Adeyemo Amira said the nominee had cases pending before the National Industrial Court in Lagos and Abuja and urged the Senate to allow the courts to determine the matters before proceeding with the confirmation.

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President Bola Tinubu had recently forwarded a list of ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation as part of efforts to fill Nigeria’s diplomatic missions, many of which had remained vacant for months.

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