300 CSOs Mobilise Against Ex-FUOYE VC’s Ambassadorial Nomination Over Sexual Harassment Allegations

300 CSOs Mobilise Against Ex-FUOYE VC’s Ambassadorial Nomination Over Sexual Harassment Allegations

 

Pressure is mounting on the Senate to halt the ambassadorial nomination of former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, as more than 300 civil society organisations, backed by prominent rights advocates, have petitioned lawmakers to reject his confirmation over unresolved sexual harassment and abuse of office allegations currently before the courts.

 

The coalition, which includes former Minister of Education Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Yiaga Africa, Bring Back Our Girls, Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Women Aid Collective (WACOL), Project Alert on Violence Against Women, Stand to End Rape (STER), Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), Women Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON), Women Environmental Programme (WEP), Baobab for Women’s Human Rights, Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) and several others, urged the Senate to suspend Fasina’s confirmation until all pending criminal and civil cases against him are concluded.

In a petition dated June 25, 2026, signed by the Co-convener of Womanifesto, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, the coalition argued that while every citizen enjoys the constitutional presumption of innocence, ambassadorial appointments demand individuals of unquestionable integrity because they represent Nigeria’s image and values abroad.

The petition was addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio through the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello, ahead of the screening of ambassadorial nominees.

Copies were also forwarded to the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

However, a group known as the FUOYE Progressives, comprising students, alumni and staff members of the university, dismissed the campaign against Fasina, describing it as a politically motivated attempt to derail his nomination.

The group’s spokesperson, Dr. Kehinde Alao, insisted that allegations of sexual harassment and administrative misconduct against the former vice-chancellor had been investigated by the police and two successive FUOYE Governing Councils, both of which reportedly cleared him of wrongdoing.

But the coalition maintained that unresolved allegations bordering on sexual harassment, abuse of office, workplace victimisation, intimidation, human rights violations and retaliatory conduct make Fasina unsuitable for a diplomatic appointment.

“It is trite that an ambassador serves as a representative of a nation’s identity and values. Given this important role, any candidate for an ambassadorial position must embody the highest standards of integrity and impeccable conduct,” the petition stated.

The organisations warned that confirming a nominee facing unresolved criminal and civil proceedings could expose Nigeria to international embarrassment and weaken public confidence in the country’s institutions.

They alleged that one of the sexual harassment claims is backed by a 37-minute audio recording currently forming part of evidence before the National Industrial Court.

Fasina has consistently denied the allegations.

During the controversy that trailed the allegations while serving as Vice-Chancellor, he maintained that he never sexually harassed the complainant and challenged the actions of the ICPC in court.

 

In April 2025, he secured an interim order from the Federal High Court in Lagos restraining the anti-graft agency from arresting or taking further action against him pending the determination of his suit challenging the investigation.

 

According to the petitioners, the ICPC later instituted criminal proceedings against Fasina, while separate civil suits involving allegations of sexual harassment and workplace victimisation are pending before the National Industrial Court in Abuja and Ikoyi.

 

The coalition also cited the judgment in Akingbe v. FUOYE (NICN/AK/58/2018), in which the National Industrial Court held that the university under Fasina’s administration violated the claimant’s right to fair hearing after accusing him of self-plagiarism without proof, awarding N40 million in damages against the institution.

 

The petitioners argued that the Senate’s constitutional duty extends beyond confirming nominees’ qualifications to assessing their integrity, character, judgment and public credibility.

 

“The Senate’s constitutional role in the confirmation process is not limited to verifying formal eligibility. It extends to assessing whether a nominee possesses the integrity, character, judgment and public standing necessary to discharge the responsibilities of the office,” the petition added.

 

The coalition warned that confirming Fasina while criminal proceedings initiated by the ICPC remain unresolved could undermine confidence in Nigeria’s anti-corruption institutions and send the wrong signal about the country’s commitment to tackling sexual harassment, workplace abuse and gender-based violence.

 

It urged the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to reject the nomination until all pending legal proceedings have been finally determined.

 

“The issue before this Committee concerns public confidence in the rule of law. It concerns the credibility of Nigeria’s commitment to accountability, human rights, dignity, gender equality and institutional integrity.

“For these reasons, we respectfully urge the Committee to reject the confirmation of Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina pending the final determination of all proceedings presently before competent courts,” the petition concluded.