The Nigerian senate has screened and confirmed 45 out the 48 ministerial candidates sent to them by president Bola Tinubu.
The three remaining candidates are former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, Stella Okotete from Delta State and Senator Abubakar Danladi from Taraba State. The confirmation of the trio was reportedly halted based on letters from the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Office of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, urging the lawmakers not to confirm them.
El-Rufai’s confirmation is under serious question over his role in the mass killings in Kaduna State, during his time as a governor. Following his nomination, a group of protesters under the aegis of Secure Nation Group (SNG) staged a protest on the premises of the National Assembly in Abuja, asking the lawmakers not to confirm El-Rufai as minister.
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The SNG said the Tinubu-led government should investigate and prosecute El-Rufai, who has been accused of religious and tribal bigotry, over alleged genocidal attacks on predominantly Shia Muslim communities in Kaduna State.
Also, some top Nigerian lawyers from Juryman Associate Chambers are Aare Oladotun Hassan, Esq, Principal Partner/Secretary, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Epe Branch/ Executive Director, Lawyers For Justice Reform, and Barr. Myso Nejo had written the 10th Senate, demanding the immediate disqualification of Okotete, who is a former Executive Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM).
The petitioners are requesting the Senate to properly investigate Mrs. Okotete over alleged massive corruption allegations against her – round-tripping and recycling of different loans and use of various front-companies as proxies to defraud NEXIM Bank of billions of Naira and Dollars.
Similarly, Danladi was reportedly barred in 2019 from contesting or holding political offices for 10 years over forgery. He was barred in 2019 from
contesting or holding political offices over alleged certificate forgery and age falsification. The ban, which was subsequently, upheld by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, follows confirmation that he presented a forged document to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Those screened and confirmed are:
- 1. Abubakar Kyari Borno State
- 2. Abubakar Momoh
Edo State
- 3. Nyesom Wike
Rivers State
- 4. Prof. Joseph Utsev
Benue State
- 5. John Eno
Cross River State
- 6. Bello Mohammed
Sokoto State
- 7. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar
Jigawa State
- 8. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar
Bauchi State
- 9. Uju Ken Ohaneye
Anambra State
- 10. Olubunmi Tunji Ojo
Ondo State
- 11. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha
Abia State
- 12. Betta Edu
Cross River State
- 13. Imaan Suleiman
Nasarawa State
- 14. David Umahi
Ebonyi State
- 15. Adebayo Olawale Edun
Ogun State
- 16. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa
Katsina State
- 17. Uche Nnaji
Enugu State
- 18. Dele Alake
Ekiti State
- 19. Waheed Adebayo Adelabu
Oyo State
- 20. Muhammad Idris
Niger State
- 21. Prof. Ali Pate
Bauchi State
- 22. Dr Doris Uzoka
Imo State
- 23. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN)
Kwara State
- 24. Ekperikpe Ekpo
Akwa Ibom State
- 25. Hannatu Musawa
Katsina State
- 26. Ibrahim Geidam
Yobe State
- 27. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi
Niger State
- 28. Heineken Lokpobiri
Bayelsa State
- 29. Alkali Ahmed Sa’eed
Gombe State
- 30. Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu
Kebbi State
- 31. Atiku Bagudu
Kebbi State
- 32. Bello Matawalle
Zamfara State
- 33. Adegboyega Oyetola
Osun State
- 34. Simon Bako Lalong
Plateau State
- 35. Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo
Kano State
- 36. Bosun Tijjani
Ogun State
- 37. Dr. Mariya Mahmoud
Kano State
- 38. Dr Isiyaka Salako
Ogun State
- 39. Dr Tunji Alausa
Lagos State
- 40. Lola Ade John
Lagos State
- 41. Prof. Tahir Mamman
Adamawa State
- 42. Zephaniah Jissalo
F.C.T
- 43. Uba Maigari Ahmadu
Taraba State
- 44. Shuaibu Abubakar Audu
Kogi State
- 45. Festus Keyamo (SAN)
Delta State