Human rights lawyer Frank Tietie has criticised the nomination and confirmation of former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Professor Abayomi Fasina, as a non-career ambassador, describing the decision as a serious error.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Thursday, Tietie argued that appointing Fasina despite the allegations against him sends the wrong message about Nigeria’s commitment to accountability and good governance.
According to him, an ambassador represents the image and interests of the President and the nation abroad, making integrity a critical requirement for such an appointment.
“For many reasons, there was a mistake in nominating someone with that kind of baggage,” Tietie said.
“Representing Nigeria as an ambassador is like representing the President himself in another country. We’ve had enough scandals associated with governance, and this is the time to send the right signals.”
His comments come days after a coalition of civil society organisations protested at the National Assembly on July 7, 2026, urging the Senate to reject Fasina’s nomination over allegations of sexual harassment, human rights violations and victimisation, which are currently before a court.
Despite the protests, the Senate on Thursday confirmed Fasina as a non-career ambassador designate.
Tietie maintained that the absence of a court judgment did not justify proceeding with the appointment, insisting that the pending allegations alone should have prompted the Senate to exercise caution.
“It doesn’t matter if they cleared him because there is no court decision. The fact is that he is tainted, and the court is yet to determine the veracity of the claims. He ought not to have been considered. The Senate should have waited,” he said.
The human rights lawyer also criticised what he described as the National Assembly’s failure to recognise changing societal attitudes toward allegations of misconduct.
“We know that we are in a male-dominated National Assembly. What they forget is that there is a huge social change in society. Some things that you could overlook can no longer be overlooked,” he added.
Professor Fasina has consistently denied the allegations against him, while the legal proceedings relating to the matter remain before the court.
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