A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) has called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend the ambassadorial nomination of the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Professor Abayomi Fasina, citing unresolved court cases arising from allegations of sexual harassment, abuse of office and workplace victimisation.
The groups, which include Gender Relevance Initiative Promotion, Gender Mobile Initiative, Hope Behind Bars Africa, Speak Out Africa Initiative, Coalition of Public Interest Lawyers, and Advocate of Rule of Law and Human Dignity, said Fasina’s nomination as a non-career ambassador could undermine public confidence in accountability and the rule of law.
The call followed President Tinubu’s recent request to the Senate seeking confirmation of Fasina as a non-career ambassador/high commissioner-designate.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the organisations argued that the nomination should not proceed while criminal and civil proceedings linked to the allegations remain pending before various courts.
“We have closely monitored developments surrounding allegations made against Professor Fasina,” the coalition stated.
“These allegations have not only attracted significant public concern but have also resulted in both criminal and civil proceedings that remain unresolved.”
The organisations said concerns raised by civil society groups and other stakeholders previously prompted an investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
According to the coalition, the anti-graft agency subsequently initiated criminal proceedings after concluding its investigation, while separate cases relating to allegations of sexual harassment and workplace victimisation are also pending before the National Industrial Court in Abuja and Lagos.
“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 by different victims, indicating a habitual pattern,” the statement added.
The groups maintained that diplomatic appointments require not only legal eligibility but also unquestionable ethical standards and public trust.
They argued that ambassadors serve as representatives of Nigeria on the global stage and should embody values of integrity, accountability and respect for human rights.
“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 the individuals involved possess sufficient influence or status,” the coalition stated.
“Such a perception is particularly damaging at a time when survivors of sexual violence continue to face significant barriers in reporting abuse, accessing justice, and obtaining institutional protection.”
The organisations further said the issue should be viewed within the context of Nigeria’s international obligations on gender equality and human rights.
“Nigeria is 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),” the CSOs said.
Such membership, they said, “impose obligations on the State to prevent, address, and remedy gender-based discrimination and abuse. Appointments to high public office should reflect, and not undermine, these commitments”.
The coalition urged President Tinubu to withdraw the nomination pending the conclusion of all legal proceedings involving the FUOYE vice-chancellor.
It also called on the National Assembly to subject the nomination to thorough scrutiny, insisting that public office holders must be held to the highest standards of integrity and accountability.
“The federal government, through both policy and practice, must demonstrate that allegations of sexual harassment and abuse of authority are treated with the seriousness they deserve and that accountability remains a cornerstone of democratic governance,” the statement added.
The controversy surrounding Fasina dates back to late 2024 when a senior lecturer at FUOYE, Folashade Adebayo, accused him of sexual harassment and victimisation.
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) also accused the vice-chancellor of inappropriate conduct, alleging that he victimised the lecturer after she rejected his advances.
The allegations sparked widespread calls for investigations into both the claims and the university’s administrative operations under his leadership.
Although a committee set up by the university’s governing council later cleared Fasina of wrongdoing, the matter has continued to generate public debate and legal challenges.
