Nigerian Women's Groups Denounce Ambassador Confirmation Over Harassment Allegations

A coalition of over 300 women's rights organizations has vehemently rejected the Nigerian Senate's confirmation of Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina as Ambassador. The groups labeled the Senate's action a "charade of shame, travesty of justice and in total oblivion of existing petitions."

Senate President Godswill Akpabio confirmed Fasina, citing his origin from Lagos State, the absence of petitions against him, the principle of presumption of innocence, and clearance from the police and FUOYE Governing Council. However, the coalition disputes all these points.

They assert that Fasina is from Ogun State, not Lagos, and that two petitions, dated June 25 and June 29, 2026, were submitted with acknowledged copies to the Senate President and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs. These petitions, they claim, included details of two suits pending at the National Industrial Court.

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a charade of shame, travesty of justice and in total oblivion of existing petitions

The groups highlighted that one suit, NICN/ABJ/201/2025, is a sexual harassment case filed by a FUOYE staffer, allegedly supported by an audio recording of Fasina. The second suit, NICN/LA/61/2025, accuses Fasina of harassment and victimization, claiming a complainant was denied promotion and her appointment terminated after rejecting alleged advances, in violation of a court order.

Challenging the clearance claims, the CSOs argued that the police cannot definitively clear sexual harassment allegations and that the FUOYE panel was controlled by the vice-chancellor. They also stated that complainants were not invited to the Senate hearing, contradicting the Senate's claim of victim non-appearance. The petition referenced House of Representatives records showing evidence submitted by a Folasade Adebayo for a hearing that was postponed indefinitely after Fasina allegedly failed to respond to an invitation.

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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.