Scores of civil society activists on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, stormed the National Assembly complex in Abuja, demanding that the Senate suspend the confirmation of Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, a former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), as a non-career ambassador.
The protesters, operating under the banner of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, cited ongoing court cases involving allegations of sexual harassment, human rights violations, and victimisation against the nominee. They argued that confirmation should be deferred until the judicial process is completed.
President Bola Tinubu had forwarded a list of ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation to address vacancies in Nigeria’s diplomatic missions. However, Fasina’s nomination has sparked significant controversy.
Carrying placards with messages such as “Suspend the Ambassadorial Appointment of Prof Fasina Now” and “Nigerian Senate, Don’t Confirm Prof Abayomi Fasina’s Ambassadorial Appointment,” the demonstrators chanted solidarity songs outside the assembly complex.
Adeyemo Amira, a legal practitioner speaking on behalf of the coalition, told journalists that Fasina has pending cases at the National Industrial Court in Lagos and Abuja. She emphasised that the protest was not motivated by personal vendetta but by the need to uphold justice and protect Nigeria’s international image.
“Our call to the Senate is clear. Where there are grave allegations such as sexual misconduct pending before a court, this is not the time to confirm such a person to represent Nigeria internationally. The Senate is not a court. Let the court do its job,” Amira stated.
She added that the coalition would support confirmation if Fasina is cleared by the courts, but urged the Senate to exercise caution in the meantime. The group warned that proceeding with the confirmation could lead to further protests and notifications to the potential host country about the unresolved allegations.
Co-convener Dr. Ernest Ogaze went further, calling for the outright rejection of the nomination rather than a mere suspension. He warned that approving it amid pending litigation could damage Nigeria’s global reputation.
Ogaze referenced a 2009 precedent where the Senate declined the nomination of Prof. Tunde Adeniran as ambassador to the United States due to similar concerns, urging lawmakers to apply the same standard.
The Feminist Manifesto Conference also joined the call, with Emmanuella Azu revealing that the group had submitted formal petitions to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the relevant Senate committee. She argued that confirmation would send the wrong signal regarding Nigeria’s stance on sexual misconduct.
The protesters maintained that while every individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty, serious allegations before competent courts warrant careful consideration before entrusting the nominee with a sensitive diplomatic role.
The Senate is yet to respond publicly to the protest as screening of the ambassadorial nominees continues.
