The Senate has confirmed the appointment of former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, as a non-career ambassador after a lengthy and heated debate over allegations previously made against him.
The confirmation followed the presentation of a report by Senator Simon Lalong on behalf of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello. The committee recommended Fasina’s confirmation, stating that it found no legal or constitutional grounds to block the nomination.
Lalong explained that although the committee received petitions opposing the appointment and others supporting it, investigations by the Federal University Oye-Ekiti Governing Council, the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services cleared the nominee of the allegations against him.
He added that Fasina also met all security screening requirements and impressed the committee with his academic achievements, public service experience and performance during the confirmation exercise.
However, Senator Adams Oshiomhole opposed the immediate confirmation, arguing that although every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty, the Senate should exercise caution and sensitivity in light of the allegations made by two women, especially as the matter was reportedly before the courts.
Responding, Lalong maintained that the committee relied strictly on available evidence and noted that no court order or legal document was presented to justify delaying the confirmation. He stressed that allegations alone should not prevent the Senate from carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.
The debate became more intense when Senator Cyril Fasuyi, who represents Ekiti North Senatorial District and served on the screening committee, publicly distanced himself from the committee’s recommendation despite signing its report.
Fasuyi said he was familiar with the controversy because it occurred within his constituency and claimed that one of the women involved had personally shared her experience with him. He warned that confirming the nominee could create negative public perception.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio questioned Fasuyi’s position, asking why he endorsed the committee’s report if he still had reservations about the nomination.
Akpabio also argued that withholding confirmation based solely on unresolved allegations would violate Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a competent court.
Following deliberations, the Senate adopted the committee’s recommendation and officially confirmed Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina as a non-career ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
