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
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