Fresh Row As Omokri, Fani-Kayode, Others Face Senate Over Envoy List

 

A fresh round of scrutiny trailed the Senate on Thursday as high-profile ambassadorial nominees, including Reno Omokri, Senator Grace Bent and former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode, appeared at the National Assembly for screening.

Also sighted at the complex was former Interior Minister, Lt-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd), among other prominent figures on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second batch of 32 envoy nominees submitted on November 29.

The list, made up of 15 career diplomats and 17 non-career nominees, has stirred debates across political circles, with critics questioning the heavy presence of former office-holders.

The Presidency said the envoys, once confirmed, will be deployed to Nigeria’s diplomatic missions across countries where it maintains bilateral relations, as well as multilateral institutions including the United Nations.

Notable on the list are immediate past INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, former Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu, ex-presidential aide Reno Omokri, and former Aviation Minister Fani-Kayode.

Of the nominees, four women feature among the career officers, while six women made the non-career category.

Since the release of the names, calls for heightened scrutiny have intensified, particularly over what some critics describe as “politically-motivated” choices.

FULL LIST OF NON-CAREER NOMINEES (17)

Barr. Ogbonnaya Kalu – Abia

Reno Omokri – Delta

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu – Former INEC Chairman

Erelu Angela Adebayo – Former Ekiti First Lady

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi – Former Enugu Governor

Tasiu Musa Maigari – Former Speaker, Katsina Assembly

Yakubu N. Gambo – Former Plateau Commissioner / Ex-UBEC Deputy Executive Secretary

Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut – Former Plateau Senator

Otunba Femi Pedro – Former Lagos Deputy Governor

Chief Femi Fani-Kayode – Former Aviation Minister, Osun

Barr. Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu – Anambra

Fatima Florence Ajimobi – Former Oyo First Lady

Lola Akande – Former Lagos Commissioner

Grace Bent – Former Senator, Adamawa

Victor Okezie Ikpeazu – Former Abia Governor

Senator Jimoh Ibrahim – Ondo

Amb. Paul Oga Adikwu – Former Ambassador to the Holy See, Benue

FULL LIST OF CAREER DIPLOMATS (15)

Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu – Abia

Yakubu Nyaku Danladi – Taraba

Miamuna Ibrahim Besto – Adamawa

Musa Musa Abubakar – Kebbi

Syndoph Paebi Endoni – Bayelsa

Chima Geoffrey Lioma David – Ebonyi

Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim – Ogun

Abimbola Samuel Reuben – Ondo

Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah – Edo

Hamza Mohammed Salau – Niger

Amb. Shehu Barde – Katsina

Amb. Ahmed Mohammed Monguno – Borno

Amb. Muhammad Saidu Dahiru – Kaduna

Amb. Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari – Kwara

Amb. Wahab Adekola Akande – Osun