The Senate on Thursday confirmed the nomination of former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, ex-presidential aide, Reno Omokri, and 62 other nominees as ambassadors.
The confirmation followed the consideration and adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which screened the ambassadorial nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu.
Presenting the report, the committee said all nominees were thoroughly screened and found suitable for appointment based on their qualifications, experience, conduct and understanding of international diplomacy.
The exercise came about 48 hours after the upper chamber confirmed three nominees as non-career ambassadors: Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun State), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa State) and Ayodele Oke (Oyo State).
Among those cleared on Thursday were former Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau; former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu; former Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; former Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu; former presidential aide, Senator Ita Enang; and Senator Grace Bent, among others.
In total, the list comprises 34 career ambassadors and high commissioners, and 30 non-career ambassadors and high commissioners, bringing the number of confirmed nominees to 64.
Notable names among the career diplomats include Sulu-Gambari Ahmed (Kwara State), Segun Ige (Edo State) and Odumah Ehinosen (also Edo State).
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Sani Bello (APC, Niger North), said all the nominees were found worthy of appointment, adding that no petition was received against any of them.
Congratulating the confirmed ambassadors, President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, urged them to represent Nigeria positively in their respective postings. He also appealed to Senator Ibrahim to maintain close ties with the National Assembly so the Senate could continue to benefit from his experience and insights.
The confirmation came one week after the Senate dismissed reports that it had received petitions against some of the nominees, including Fani-Kayode, Omokri and a former INEC chairman.
Speaking in an interview during Thursday’s proceedings, Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, said the upper chamber received no petition or letter of protest against any nominee.
“I am telling you that we didn’t receive petitions from anybody, organisation or legal entity. Not even from any faceless, outlawed and rogue element. There was no petition against any nominee,” Adaramodu said.
He also dismissed claims that nominees were merely asked to “take a bow and go,” insisting that the screening involved substantive engagement and questioning.
