Senate: Abia Nominee Rejected Tinubu’s Appointment

The Senate, Thursday said a nominee for the appointment as a member of the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Urum Kalu Eke, from Abia State has rejected his nomination by President Bola Tinubu.

Meanwhile, the Senate has confirmed the appointment of four other members of the Board of Directors of the CBN forwarded to it by President Bola Tinubu.

Those confirmed by the Senate on Thursday as Directors are Robert Agbede; Ado Yakubu Wanka; Professor Murtala Sabo Sagagi and Mrs. Muslimat Olanike Aliyu.

The confirmation was sequel to the consideration of a report of the screening of the nominee presented by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance & Other Financial Institutions by the Chairman, Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, APC, Lagos East.

He said “That the Senate do receive and consider the report of on the confirmation of the nomination of the following Five (5) persons as members of the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria in accordance with section 6(1), (2) (d) and 10 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.”

According to him, the Committee did not clear Urum Kalu Eke from Abia because he failed to appear before the Committee for screening.

Speaking on the nominee, former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, APC, Abia North told the Senate that the person who is his constituent had called him on phone that he rejected the offer because it would conflict with his present job as a consultant with the World Bank.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu had last week, written the Senate, seeking for the screening and subsequent confirmation of five persons appointed as directors of the board of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The President’s request was contained in a letter read by the President of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio during plenary.

The appointed board directors of the CBN are; Robert Agbide, Ado Wanga, Murtala Sagaley, Urom Kalu Eke and Olayinka Aliyu.

In the letter, Tinubu who explained that his request was in compliance with the provision of section 6(1a) of the section 10(1)(2) of the CBN Act, 2007, said, “In compliance with the provision of section 6(1a) of the section 10(1)(2) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) establishment act 2007.

“I am pleased to present for confirmation by the senate the appointments of the under listed five persons as directors of the board of the CBN.”