By Innocent Anaba

No fewer than 200 women’s rights organisations, civil society groups and gender advocates have called on the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to suspend the confirmation of former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, FUOYE, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, as Nigeria’s ambassador pending the conclusion of ongoing court proceedings involving him.

The groups made the request in a petition dated June 25, 2026, addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio through the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello.

The petition by Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Co-Convener of Womanifesto, on behalf of more than 200 organisations and advocates said that confirming Fasina before the conclusion of pending criminal and civil cases could affect public confidence in Nigeria’s commitment to accountability, human rights and gender justice.

The petitioners stated that Fasina is involved in ongoing legal proceedings, pending before the National Industrial Court, while the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) instituted criminal proceedings following its investigation of complaints against the former vice-chancellor.

The coalition also cited an earlier National Industrial Court judgment involving FUOYE, identified as Akingbe v. FUOYE (NICN/AK/58/2018), which it said resulted in damages being awarded against the university.

The organisations argued that ambassadorial appointments require individuals who command public confidence because ambassadors represent Nigeria before foreign governments and international organisations.

While acknowledging that every accused person is entitled to the constitutional presumption of innocence, the coalition urged the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to defer consideration of Fasina’s nomination until all pending judicial proceedings have been concluded.

Among the organisations listed as signatories are the Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Nigeria, National Council of Women Societies, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, WARDC, Women Aid Collective, WACOL, Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), Project Alert on Violence Against Women, Bring Back Our Girls, Yiaga Africa, Enough is Enough Nigeria, WIMBIZ, Stand to End Rape (STER), Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), alongside former Minister of Education Dr. Oby Ezekwesili and several other civil society organisations.

Copies of the petition were also sent to the Chairman of the ICPC, Dr. Musa Aliyu, SAN, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu. Fasina is yet to respond the petition at press time.