Spokesperson of the Senate, Yemi Adaramodu said the Upper Chambers may re-invite the three ministerial nominees, who are yet to be confirmed after their screening.
The Senator representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, disclosed this on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Tuesday.
The three ministerial nominees yet to be confirmed by the Senate are ex-Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, Senator Abubakar Danladi from Taraba State and ex-Nexim Bank Managing Director, Stella Okotete (Delta State).
Recall that the Senate had on Monday approved and confirmed the ministerial nominations of 45 other appointees of President Bola Tinubu after a voice vote but failed to confirm El-Rufai, Danladi and Okotete pending “security clearance”.
Explaining the situation to concerned supporters of the candidates and citizens, Adaramodu said, “If security is not satisfied, Senate cannot be satisfied. It depends on what security agencies and the person that nominates them say.”
This was also confirmed by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who said, “Just to mention that for the avoidance of doubt, the Senate has so far approved and confirmed the nomination of 45 ministers out of the total 48 ministerial nominees sent to us by the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Force of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The others are still awaiting security clearance.”
The 45 nominees cleared by the Senate are Festus Keyamo, Mariya Mahmoud, Lola Ade-John, Bosun Tijani, Isiak Salako, Tahir Mamman, Maigari Ahmadu, Zephaniah Jisalo, Shuaibu Audu, Yusuf Sununu, Bello Matawalle, Alkali Saidu, Ahmed Gwarzo, Atiku Bagudu, Simon Lalong, Ibrahim Gaidam, Aliu Abdullahi, Gboyega Oyetola, Heineken Lokpobiri and Tunji Alausa.
Others are Dele Alake, Lateef Fagbemi, Muhammad Idris, Ali Pate, Doris Uzoka, Dave Umahi, Wale Edun, Uche Nnaji, Adebayo Adelabu, Ekperikpe Ekpo, Hannatu Musawa, Musa Dangiwa, Nyesom Wike; Abubakar Kyari, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, Bello Muhammad, Badaru Abubakar, Joseph Utsev, Olubunmi Ojo, Betta Edu, Uju Kennedy Ohaneye, Abubakar Momoh, John Enoh, Iman Suleiman Ibrahim, and Yusuf Tuggar.
On El-Rufai, Sen. Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West), alongside other minorities, filed a petition on why he shouldn’t be appointed. According to Karimi, the former Kaduna State governor had some unaddressed security issues to answer to while he was Governor. The issues bothered on insecurity, unity, and national cohesion.
Sunday had praised El-Rufai’s performance as Kaduna governor and minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) some 20 years ago, but mentioned he had a strong petition against him, which had to be considered along this screening exercise.
There was, however, a loud resistance from the Senators against the subject and the Senate President intervened saying, “Distinguished colleagues, perhaps I should inform you that I have received petitions from many other people in respect of other nominees but this is not where we are to deal with petitions. Our job here is to screen and of course, we can refer petitions to where petitions would be dealt with.
“These are the nominees of Mr President. If it is something that is a formal petition before the Senate, we will look at it formally but there are certain petitions that we have to refer to the Presidency or security agencies to look at and that has nothing to do with us.
“I think by the time we are going with the issue of confirmation and approval, we will so advise. So, I will want to plead with my brother (El-Rufai) to take a bow. So, don’t bother about (addressing the petition). Thank you.”
For Dalandi, a petition was also submitted against him, saying he had a court judgment restricting him from holding public office for 10 years, which Danladi denied such.
Also for Okotete, several petitions were filed against her. One of which states that the former Nexim Bank MD, was alleged of non-disclosure of assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau.
Meanwhile, Okotete, has been pushing to clear the air on allegations about her academic credentials.
In a series of documents made available through her lawyers, Babatunde Ogala and Co, the ministerial nominee, wrote to the different relevant institutions to verify the authenticity of her certificates and degrees.
The documents showed that Okotete graduated from Benson Idahosa University in 2007 with a second class lower grade in International Studies and Diplomacy and concluded the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from Kebbi State in 2009.
Other documents made available to Channels Television showed her professional short course certifications from institutions like Harvard Kennedy School and the rest as well as a Master’s degree from Noun University.
