Senator Oshiomhole Blocks Fasina’s Ambassadorial Confirmation Over Sexual Harassment Claims
On Thursday, a heated exchange took place in the Senate between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
Oshiomhole objected to confirming Fasina, a non‑career ambassadorial nominee, while he faces sexual‑harassment allegations, warning that such a move would send the wrong signal, especially to Nigerian women.
He said, “Nigerian women have brought to the attention of this Senate that the professor in question has been accused by two separate women, not merely in conversation, and the cases are still pending before various courts. While the presumption of innocence applies and no one has declared him guilty, endorsing someone with pending allegations would be insensitive to women’s feelings, given that two different complainants have come forward.”
Oshiomhole added, “In such situations, it would be wiser to postpone the confirmation and allow the nominee to clear his name through the judicial process.”
The disagreement arose just before the Senate voted on Fasina’s appointment as a non‑career ambassadorial nominee.
The vote followed the consideration of the report from the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Senator Sani Bello (APC‑Niger North), which was presented by Senator Simon Lalong (APC‑Plateau South).
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