Protesters Ask Senate To Halt Ex-FUOYE VC’s Ambassadorial Screening

Civil society protesters gathered at the National Assembly in Abuja on Tuesday to ask the Senate to suspend the ambassadorial screening of Professor Abayomi Fasina, the former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti.

The protesters said the Senate should not confirm Fasina while allegations of sexual misconduct, human rights violations and victimisation linked to him are still before the courts.

President Bola Tinubu had sent Fasina’s name to the Senate as a non-career ambassadorial nominee. His nomination has drawn objections from groups who want lawmakers to wait until the legal cases are resolved.

The protesters, under the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, carried placards at the National Assembly and said their demand was not a request for the Senate to determine guilt.

Amirah Adeyemo, who spoke for the coalition, said the group wanted the Senate to protect Nigeria’s international reputation by delaying the confirmation process. She said the allegations should first be tested through the courts.

Daily Post also reported that the coalition threatened to petition the country where Fasina may be posted if the Senate goes ahead with the confirmation.

The reports did not state that Fasina had been convicted of any offence. The protesters’ position is that the screening should wait until the pending matters are concluded.

Sources: Punch, Daily Post