By Henry Umoru, Abuja
There was mild drama yesterday as the Senate confirmed Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina( Lagos) as Non Career ambassadorial designate.
Fasina’s confirmation followed the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Senator Sani Bello (APC, Niger North).
The report was presented by Senator Simon Lalong, APC, Plateau South.
Presenting the report, Senator Lalong said that the committee took steps to clear every doubt surrounding the nominee.
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.”
Lalong, who noted that the committee received petitions against the nominee as well as counter-petitions supporting his nomination as ambassador/high commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, said that the allegations against Professor Abayomi Fasina were investigated by competent authorities, including the university’s governing council, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Department of State Services (DSS), all of which cleared him of wrongdoing.
The committee, in its findings 6.0 item 4, states “that 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.”
He said that the nominee also had an outstanding record of service within the university system.
He said, “Born on 17 July 1961 in Lagos State, Nigeria. He is a distinguished Nigerian academic, university administrator, and soil scientist with over 40 years of combined experience in teaching, research, university administration, consultancy, and community service.
“That his nomination is in line with section 171 (4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which states, ‘An appointment to the office of an ambassador, high commissioner or other principal representatives of Nigeria abroad shall not have effect unless the appointment is confirmed by the Senate’;
“That the committee received a petition against the nominee as well as a petition countering the petition against his nomination as ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that the nominee was accused of sexual harassment by a colleague at the University of Oye-Ekiti;
“That 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; that the nominee has been cleared by the Department of State Services (DSS);
“That the Nominee has been cleared by the Nigeria Police; that the Nominee has presented his Code of Conduct Acknowledgement Slip; that the Nominee possesses the requisite academic qualifications as well as wide-ranging experiences to be Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that his experiences in public service also made him qualified; and that the Nominee is articulate and responded satisfactorily to questions. directed at him by the Committee.
“Based on these findings, the committee has no hesitation in recommending that the Senate confirm the nomination of Prof. Abayomi Fasina as a non-career ambassador/high commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Soon after the presentation of the report, while some senators kicked against his clearance, some were in support, especially the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Abdul Ningi, Bauchi Central, while some senators were against his confirmation.
In his remarks, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, APC, Edo North, who opposed the recommendation, said that it was a matter of public knowledge that the nominee had been accused by two women and that related cases were pending before the courts.
Oshiomhole stressed that while the nominee was presumed innocent until proven guilty, confirming him while the cases were still before the courts could be viewed as insensitive to the concerns of women.
“I believe it would be more prudent to allow him to clear himself before the courts before confirming his appointment,” he said.
Responding, Lalong said that no documentary evidence relating to the allegations was presented before the committee.
Lalong, who argued that mere allegations before a court of competent jurisdiction did not amount to guilt, said, “If we continue to act on allegations alone, many innocent people will be denied opportunities. An allegation without a court judgment cannot stop the proceedings of the Senate.”
He added that the committee requested relevant documents, but none establishing wrongdoing were presented.
Even Senator Cyril Fasuyi, APC, Ekiti North, who is a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and was number twelve on the list and also signed that he should be confirmed, however, kicked against it.
Fasuyi, who expressed reservations about the nomination, said that the Federal University Oye-Ekiti was in his constituency and that he was familiar with the case.
“The woman involved approached me personally and narrated what happened. Although there is no court judgment yet, this is a well-known issue in Ekiti. If this Senate clears him without further scrutiny, many people in Ekiti who are aware of the matter will not be pleased,” he said.
He proposed that the Senate mandate the appropriate committee to conduct further investigation before confirmation.
In his remarks, Akpabio, who thanked the committee for the work, said that the committee had reports from the police, the Department of State Services, and the university council.
Akpabio said, “Let me read a relevant portion of the council’s findings:
“There were no cases of sexual harassment, thus confirming the earlier investigation by the Nigeria Police Force, which had investigated the matter and found the allegation to be false.
“During the investigation, the complainant stated that she was not sexually harassed.
“All documents relied upon by the committee, including the police report, audio recordings, transcripts, correspondence involving the Vice-Chancellor and the complainant, and minutes of management meetings, were attached to the report.”
Akpabio further said, “I work strictly with the documents placed before me. I cannot rely on hearsay or telephone conversations.
“The committee itself signed the report clearing the nominee and affirmed his competence, integrity and suitability for the ambassadorial position for which the president nominated him.”
He urged the senators to remember that they were members of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the upper chamber of the National Assembly of a nation of nearly 250 million people, just as he warned senators to take their assignments with respect, and they must not rely on hearsay.
“We must be careful not to import into our deliberations matters that are not supported by evidence before us.”
Recall that on July 7 this year, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations stormed the National Assembly, protesting against the nomination of Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina as a non-career ambassadorial nominee.
The protesters who were at the National Assembly had called on the Senate not to carry out the screening and subsequent confirmation by the Senate over allegations of sexual harassment, human rights violations and victimisation currently before the court.
The coalition insisted that its campaign was aimed at promoting accountability, protecting victims of workplace sexual harassment, and preserving Nigeria’s credibility in the international community.
According to them, Professor Fasina had pending cases before the National Industrial Court in Lagos and Abuja and argued that the Senate should allow the judicial process to run its course before considering his confirmation.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, lawyer Adeyemo Amira, who noted that the protest was not driven by personal animosity but by a desire to protect Nigeria’s integrity and uphold justice, said, “My name is Adeyemo Amira, and I am here as a concerned Nigerian and a member of civil society, not because I have any personal vendetta against Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina.” This issue is bigger than one individual.”
