The Senate on Thursday confirmed the nomination of former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, as a non-career Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after a tense and deeply divisive debate over allegations previously made against him.
The confirmation followed more than an hour of intense deliberations, with senators sharply divided between those who insisted on upholding the constitutional presumption of innocence and others who argued that the Senate should delay the appointment in view of the unresolved allegations and the need to demonstrate sensitivity to claims involving women.
The controversy erupted shortly after Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Simon Lalong, presented the committee’s report recommending Fasina’s confirmation.
Lalong disclosed that the committee received petitions opposing the nomination as well as counter-petitions in support of the former vice-chancellor. However, he said its investigation found no legal, constitutional or security impediment to the appointment.
According to him, the allegations against Fasina had already been investigated by the Governing Council of FUOYE, the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), all of which cleared him of wrongdoing.
He explained that the nominee also passed the mandatory security screening conducted by the DSS and the Police and impressed the committee during the confirmation exercise with his academic accomplishments and public service record.
“With all these clearances, the nominee performed wonderfully well, especially considering his record of service within the university. The committee therefore had no hesitation in recommending that the Senate confirm Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina as a non-career Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Lalong said.
The recommendation immediately encountered stiff opposition from Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North), who urged the Senate to tread cautiously despite acknowledging the constitutional principle that every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Oshiomhole argued that confirming Fasina while allegations involving two women were reportedly still before the courts could send the wrong signal and portray the Senate as insensitive to issues affecting women.
“I am not saying he is guilty,” Oshiomhole stressed.
“But as a matter of sensitivity, a man facing allegations by two women should perhaps first clear himself before the courts. For the Senate to endorse him now may be seen as being insensitive to the feelings of Nigerian women.”
Lalong rejected the position, insisting that the committee relied strictly on evidence placed before it and not on public sentiments or unsubstantiated allegations.
He reminded the chamber that Oshiomhole neither participated in the screening exercise nor presented any documentary evidence indicating that any criminal proceedings or court orders should prevent the confirmation.
“It is not every allegation that should stop the proceedings of the Senate,” Lalong argued.
“No court process was presented before the committee. Allegations without the judgment of a competent court do not make anybody guilty. If eventually a court convicts him, appropriate actions can always be taken.”
The debate took a dramatic turn when Senator Cyril Fasuyi (APC, Ekiti North), whose constituency hosts FUOYE and who was also a member of the screening committee, publicly distanced himself from the committee’s recommendation despite having signed the report.
Fasuyi disclosed that he had firsthand knowledge of the controversy because the events occurred within his senatorial district.
He said one of the women involved personally narrated her experience to him and maintained that many residents of Ekiti North believed justice had not been fully served.
“There is nobody in Ekiti North who is not aware of this matter,” Fasuyi said.
“The woman approached me and told me everything that happened. She believes she did not get justice. This is a very sensitive matter that we cannot simply sweep under the carpet.”
He proposed that the Senate suspend consideration of the nomination and establish another committee to independently investigate the allegations before taking a final decision.
His intervention immediately drew a sharp response from Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who questioned why Fasuyi endorsed the committee’s recommendation if he still harboured serious reservations.
“I am happy you know the woman and that she told you everything,” Akpabio remarked.
“But where did she tell you everything? We constituted a committee and mandated it to investigate this nominee. The committee has done its work.”
Akpabio pointed out that the complainant neither appeared before the committee nor submitted fresh documentary evidence during the screening process.
“We are not the panel investigating the allegations. We only received the report before us, and that report is conclusive,” he ruled.
Responding to Oshiomhole’s concerns, Akpabio maintained that withholding confirmation solely on the basis of allegations would violate Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a competent court.
“A man is presumed innocent until the contrary is proved,” the Senate President declared.
“We cannot, on the basis of allegations alone, refuse to perform our constitutional responsibility.”
Senator Abdul Ningi also urged lawmakers not to allow emotions to override constitutional procedures.
He argued that the Senate’s screening responsibilities are limited to assessing nominees’ qualifications, competence, integrity and whether they have criminal convictions, rather than investigating unresolved personal disputes.
“The committee is not permitted to ask how many wives you have, whether you have been divorced or how many girlfriends you have,” Ningi said.
“If there are allegations outside the constitutional scope of the screening process, Parliament should not convert itself into an investigative tribunal. Anyone dissatisfied is free to seek redress in court.”
As the exchanges continued, Akpabio repeatedly appealed to senators to respect the integrity of committee reports and avoid turning plenary into another investigative forum.
He reminded lawmakers that the committee’s findings clearly indicated that the FUOYE Governing Council, the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant authorities had investigated the allegations and found no basis to prevent the appointment.
Reading portions of the committee’s report, Akpabio stressed that senators should rely on official findings rather than speculation.
He also told Fasuyi that having signed the committee report, he could not simply renounce his endorsement during plenary.
“This is not the place to withdraw your signature,” Akpabio said.
“If you wish to withdraw it, you may do so formally when the Votes and Proceedings are considered, supported by an affidavit.”
Following the exhaustive debate, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele moved that the Senate dissolve into the Committee of the Whole to consider the report.
Before putting the recommendation to a vote, Akpabio again urged senators to place confidence in the work of their committees and the conclusions reached by legally recognised investigative agencies.
“There is a reason we constitute committees,” he said.
“We depend on what they present to us.”
He thereafter called for a voice vote, and the chamber overwhelmingly endorsed the committee’s recommendation.
“Accordingly, the nomination of Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina as a non-career Ambassador/High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is hereby confirmed,” Akpabio declared, bringing to a close one of the Senate’s most contentious ambassadorial confirmation proceedings in recent times.