Kuni Tyessi in Abuja
Over 300 women’s rights organisations have rejected the Nigerian Senate’s confirmation of Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina as Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, citing alleged disregard for pending sexual harassment cases and due process.
In a petition signed by Wumi Asubiaro-Dada, Co-Convener of Womanifesto, the groups described the Senate’s action as “a charade of shame, travesty of justice and in total oblivion of existing petitions.”
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio confirmed Fasina during plenary, citing four reasons: that the nominee is from Lagos State with no opposition, that no petition was submitted against him, the principle of presumption of innocence, and that the Police and FUOYE Governing Council had cleared him.
The coalition disputed all four points while insisting that Prof. Fasina is from Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State, despite being educated in Lagos, and not an indigene of Lagos.
The petition said two petitions dated June 25, 2026 and June 29, 2026, with acknowledged copies, were submitted to the Office of the Senate President and the Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs. Attached were details of two suits pending at the National Industrial Court.
According to the petition, “Ambassadorial appointments demand public confidence, ethical credibility and demonstrable respect for accountability processes. Confirming a nominee while multiple judicial proceedings remain pending sends a dangerous signal to survivors of workplace sexual harassment.
“The first, Suit No. NICN/ABJ/201/2025, is a sexual harassment case filed by a FUOYE staffer. The petitioners said it is supported by a 37-minute audio recording allegedly of Prof. Fasina.
The second, Suit No. NICN/LA/61/2025, alleges harassment and victimization.
“The complainant claims she was denied promotion and later had her appointment terminated after rejecting alleged advances, in violation of a court order to maintain peace.”
The groups also challenged claims that Fasina had been cleared. They argued that the Police lack constitutional powers to give final clearance on sexual harassment allegations and that the FUOYE panel that dismissed the case was composed of university employees under the control of the then Vice-Chancellor.
On the issue of appearance before the Senate, the CSOs said no invitation was extended to the complainants or civil society groups, contrary to the Senate’s claim that victims “failed to appear.” They cited Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution on the right to fair hearing.
The petition further referenced House of Representatives records indicating that Engr. Folasade Adebayo submitted over 100 pages of evidence and travelled to Abuja on May 14, 2025 for a scheduled hearing. The hearing was postponed indefinitely after Prof. Fasina allegedly failed to respond to the Committee’s invitation.
The CSOs also stated that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, commenced an investigation in 2025 into allegations of abuse of office and sexual harassment. They alleged that Fasina obtained a court order restraining the ICPC and that the matter remains pending.