Scandal Rocks Senate: CSOs Demand Rejection of VC Over Sexual Harassment Claims!

A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) has vehemently urged the Nigerian Senate to reject the ambassadorial nomination of Professor Abayomi Fasina, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE). This call comes amid serious allegations of sexual misconduct against Professor Fasina and pending court cases related to these accusations.

Members of the concerned coalition staged a protest at the National Assembly on Tuesday, expressing their collective stance to lawmakers. They specifically demanded that Fasina’s confirmation be suspended until all ongoing legal proceedings against him are definitively concluded. The convener of the coalition, Amirah Adeyemo, addressed journalists during the protest, emphasizing that their actions were not driven by personal animosity towards Professor Fasina, but by a deeper concern for Nigeria’s global image and integrity.

Adeyemo articulated the coalition’s clear message to the Senate: “Let no one facing such grave allegations, including sexual misconduct, go forward to represent our country and tarnish the integrity that the nation has built over the years in the global space.” She further highlighted a precedent from 2009 involving another ambassadorial nominee, Professor Wole Adeniran. In that instance, Adeniran was rejected by the host country not for direct involvement in sexual misconduct, but due to his son facing such an allegation, illustrating the sensitivity and potential diplomatic repercussions of such matters.

The coalition clarified that their appeal to the Senate was not to pass judgment on Professor Fasina’s guilt or innocence, as the Senate is not a judicial body. Instead, they stressed the importance of allowing the judicial process to run its full course. “We are simply saying there should be a hold on the confirmation of Professor Abayomi Fasina’s nomination,” Adeyemo stated, advocating for due process and ensuring that the voices of those who speak up against sexual harassment are heard and not silenced, regardless of the power dynamics involved. She added that while the CSOs would welcome Fasina’s confirmation if he is cleared by the courts, such a nomination should not proceed until that clearance is obtained.

In a strong warning, Adeyemo declared that if the Senate proceeds with Fasina’s confirmation before the conclusion of legal proceedings, the coalition would not hesitate to petition the country where he is nominated to serve, informing them of what they perceive as an injustice within Nigerian society. Echoing this sentiment, Ernest Ogezi, the coalition’s co-convener, went a step further, urging the Senate to outright decline Professor Fasina’s nomination.