Says suspending FUOYE ex-VC’s confirmation will violate 1999 Constitution

The Senate, yesterday, confirmed the nomination of former Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, as a non-career ambassador, but only after an emotionally charged and sharply divided debate over allegations previously levelled against him.

The Red Chamber, for more than an hour, was split between lawmakers who insisted that the constitutional presumption of innocence must prevail and those who said that the Senate should exercise greater sensitivity by delaying the confirmation until all allegations before the courts were resolved.

The controversy began immediately after Simon Lalong, who represented the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Abubakar Sani Bello, presented the committee’s report recommending Fasina’s confirmation.

Lalong acknowledged that the committee received petitions opposing the nomination as well as counter-petitions supporting it but maintained that the investigation found no legal or constitutional impediment to Fasina’s appointment.

According to him, the allegations against the nominee had already been investigated by the Governing Council of FUOYE, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Department of State Services (DSS), all of which cleared him.

He told the Senate that the committee’s findings established that the accusations had been investigated by competent authorities and found to be false, while the nominee also obtained security clearance from both the DSS and the Police.

Lalong added that beyond the controversy, the committee was impressed by Fasina’s academic credentials, public service record and performance during the screening exercise.

However, the recommendation immediately met resistance from Adams Oshiomhole, who urged the Senate to exercise restraint.

Oshiomhole said that though he acknowledged the constitutional principle that every accused person remains innocent until proven guilty, the Senate also has a moral responsibility to be sensitive to allegations by women.

He noted that two women had accused the former vice-chancellor and that the issues were reportedly pending before the courts.

Lalong quickly rejected Oshiomhole’s submission, insisting that the committee based its work strictly on evidence before it.

He reminded the Senate that Oshiomhole neither participated in the screening nor presented any documentary evidence to support his concerns.

“It is not every allegation that should stop Senate proceedings.

“No court process was presented before the committee. Allegations without the judgment of a competent court do not make anybody guilty. If eventually a court convicts him, appropriate actions can always be taken,” Lalong stated

The debate took an unexpected turn when Cyril Fasuyi, who represents Ekiti North Senatorial District where FUOYE is located—and who was also a member of the screening committee, openly distanced himself from the recommendation he had signed.

Fasuyi said that he was personally familiar with the controversy because it occurred within his constituency.

According to him, one of the women involved had personally narrated her experience to him.

He said that many residents of Ekiti North believed the matter had not been satisfactorily resolved and warned that confirming the nominee could send the wrong message.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio immediately challenged Fasuyi’s position, questioning why the senator endorsed the committee’s report recommending confirmation if he still entertained serious reservations.

Also responding directly to Oshiomhole’s intervention, Akpabio held that suspending the confirmation because of pending allegations would violate Section 36 (5) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the presumption of innocence.

Meanwhile, following the exchanges, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele moved that the Senate resolve into the Committee of the Whole to consider the report.

Akpabio once again urged senators to rely on the work of their committees and the findings of legally recognised investigative bodies rather than unsubstantiated allegations.

He said: “Accordingly, the nomination of Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina as a non-career Ambassador/High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is hereby confirmed.”