CSOs Oppose Fasina’s Ambassadorial Nomination, Demand Withdrawal

A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) has expressed concern over the nomination of the immediate past vice-chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, as an ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, calling for the immediate withdrawal of the nomination.

The coalition, in a statement jointly signed by Gender Relevance Initiative Promotion, Gender Mobile Initiative, Hope Behind Bars, Braveheart Initiative, Speak Out Africa Initiative, Coalition of Public Interest Lawyers, and Advocate of Rule of Law and Human Dignity, said the nomination raised fundamental questions about Nigeria’s commitment to constitutionalism, accountability, integrity in public service, the protection of human rights and the administration of justice.

According to the groups, serious allegations of sexual harassment, abuse of office and related matters involving Fasina remain the subject of ongoing judicial proceedings.

“As a coalition that has actively engaged on issues relating to institutional accountability, sexual harassment prevention, access to justice and the protection of victims’ rights, we closely monitored developments surrounding allegations made against Professor Fasina.

“These allegations have not only attracted significant public concern but have also resulted in both criminal and civil
proceedings that remain unresolved.

“It is a matter of public record that, following complaints and advocacy efforts by civil society organisations and other stakeholders, the allegations were reported to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), a statutory agency vested with powers to investigate and prosecute acts bordering on corruption, abuse of office and related misconduct.

“Following its investigation, the Commission deemed it appropriate to initiate criminal proceedings, which are currently pending before a court of competent jurisdiction. It is equally a matter of public record that related proceedings concerning allegations of sexual harassment and workplace victimisation are also pending before the National Industrial Court in Abuja and Lagos,” the statement read.

The coalition maintained that the issue before Nigerians was not whether Fasina had been found guilty by a court of law, but whether it was appropriate and consistent with the principles of public accountability to nominate an individual facing unresolved allegations of such magnitude.

“Ambassadors serve as representatives of the Nigerian state and embody the values, integrity and moral authority that Nigeria seeks to project globally. Consequently, the standards applicable to such appointments must extend beyond the narrow question of criminal conviction and encompass broader considerations of public confidence, ethical leadership, institutional credibility and respect for the rule of law.

“The nomination of an individual who is presently the subject of ongoing criminal and civil proceedings arising from allegations of sexual harassment, abuse of authority and human rights violations risks creating the perception that accountability mechanisms can be rendered inconsequential where individuals possess sufficient influence or status.

“This concern becomes even more significant when viewed against Nigeria’s constitutional commitments and international obligations. Sections 34 and 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), guarantee the rights to dignity of the human person and freedom from discrimination.

“Nigeria is also a State Party to numerous international and regional human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol), which impose obligations on the State to prevent, address and remedy gender-based discrimination and abuse,” the coalition added.

The CSOs urged President Bola Tinubu to reconsider and withdraw Fasina’s nomination pending the final determination of all ongoing criminal and civil proceedings involving allegations of sexual harassment, abuse of office, victimisation and related misconduct.

They also called on the National Assembly to exercise its constitutional oversight responsibility with the highest regard for integrity, accountability and public confidence, and to subject the nomination to rigorous scrutiny in view of the unresolved cases.

However, a group known as FUOYE Progressives, comprising students, alumni and staff members of the institution, dismissed the allegations as politically motivated attempts to frustrate Fasina’s ambassadorial nomination.

In a statement signed by its spokesman, Dr Kehinde Alao, the group accused some civil society organisations of engaging in “a campaign of calumny” and political vendetta against the former vice-chancellor.

The group maintained that allegations of sexual harassment and administrative misconduct against Fasina had been investigated and that he was cleared by the relevant authorities.

Fasina has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

During the controversy surrounding the allegations while in office, he maintained that he did not sexually harass 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 him or taking further action pending the determination of his suit challenging the investigation.

If this is intended for publication, I would also recommend adding a sentence indicating whether efforts were made to obtain comments from the Presidency or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to further strengthen balance and fairness.