The senate on Thursday confirmed the nomination of Abayomi Fasina, former vice-chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), as a non-career
The senate on Thursday confirmed the nomination of Abayomi Fasina, former vice-chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), as a non-career ambassador after a contentious debate over unresolved allegations of sexual misconduct levelled against him.
The confirmation came despite objections from some lawmakers and renewed calls by civil society organisations urging the upper legislative chamber to withhold its approval until the allegations were conclusively resolved.
Presenting the report on behalf of Sani Bello, chairman of the committee, Simon Lalong, senator representing Plateau south, said the panel had carefully screened the nominee and found no legal basis to reject his nomination.
Lalong said the committee received petitions both opposing and supporting Fasina’s nomination but noted that the allegations had already been investigated by the FUOYE governing council and the Nigeria Police Force.
According to him, both institutions found the allegations to be unsubstantiated, while the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police also cleared the nominee.
“The accusation against Professor Fasina was investigated by competent authorities, including the University Governing Council and the Nigerian Police, which found the allegations false.”
“With all these clearances, the nominee performed wonderfully well, especially his record of service within the university,” Lalong said.
“The committee had no doubt in recommending that the senate confirm the nomination of Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina as a non-career ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The recommendation, however, drew resistance from some lawmakers.
Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo north, urged the senate to suspend consideration of the nomination pending the resolution of the allegations before the courts. While acknowledging that Fasina was entitled to the presumption of innocence, Oshiomhole argued that confirming him amid such accusations would send the wrong signal.
“I am aware, and it is of public knowledge, that this gentleman has been accused by two women,” he said.
“Nobody is saying he is guilty; he deserves to be innocent until proven guilty. But, as a matter of sensitivity, a man who faces cases like that, for the senate to endorse him, will amount to being insensitive to the feelings of women. I thought that in matters like this, it is even more prudent that we wait and ask the guy to clear himself before the courts.”
Cyril Fasuyi, senator representing Ekiti north and a member of the foreign affairs committee, also urged the senate to tread carefully.
Fasuyi said the university is located in his constituency and that he was familiar with the controversy.
“I know about this case; I also know about the woman in question. That woman did not get justice. This is a very sensitive issue that we cannot just sweep under the carpet,” he said.
He suggested that the senate’s committee on rules and business investigate the matter further before any confirmation.
Responding, Lalong said no documentary evidence of any pending court proceedings was presented before the committee.
“It is not every allegation that will stop proceedings of senate. All allegations, before a court of competent jurisdiction, without judgment of a court, do not make somebody guilty. If the court gives judgment, they will remove him ,” he said.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio ruled that the committee had discharged its constitutional responsibility.
He noted that the woman at the centre of the allegations neither appeared before the committee nor submitted any evidence during the screening process.
“The report says the man is very articulate, overqualified and should be cleared by the senate,” Akpabio said.
He added that Oshiomhole’s argument conflicted with Section 36(5) of the constitution, which guarantees the presumption of innocence.
“A man is presumed innocent until the contrary is proved. So, we cannot, on the basis of an allegation that he has been charged to court, fail to perform our constitutional responsibility,” he said
Abdul Ningi, senator representing Bauchi central, urged lawmakers not to turn the chamber into a forum for trying allegations outside the scope of the committee’s constitutional mandate.
“When a person comes before a committee, the committee doesn’t go out of its constitutional jurisdiction,” he said.
“The senate rules and the constitution permit the committee to evaluate your mental ability, your educational qualifications, whether or not you’ve been convicted. The committee is not permitted to ask how many wives you have, whether you’ve been divorced or how many girlfriends you have. So if there are allegations outside this purview, then it is not the business of a parliamentarian to bring this matter up for discussion.”
He urged the senate to adopt the committee’s report.
Akpabio said the senate must rely on the findings of its committees, noting that the report stated the allegations had been investigated and found to be false by the university governing council and the police. He rejected Fasuyi’s request to withdraw his signature from the committee report during plenary, saying any such move must follow the appropriate procedure.
“Cyril, this is not a place for you to withdraw your signature,” Akpabio said.
“If you want to withdraw your signature, you have an opportunity; when we are going to consider the votes and proceedings on Tuesday, you come with an affidavit showing that you have withdrawn your signature.”
Akpabio subsequently put the confirmation to a voice vote.
Although the initial response appeared divided, the senate president ruled that the “ayes” had prevailed.
He repeated the question and again declared that the “ayes” had it before striking the gavel.
“Accordingly, the appointment and nomination of Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina as a non-career ambassador/high commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is hereby approved,” Akpabio said.
