Senate Screening of Ministerial Nominees: Alleged Age Forgery and Credential Falsification Issues Arise
Yesterday, the Senate commenced the screening of ministerial nominees, with at least three nominees facing issues of alleged age forgery and credentials falsification. This screening process is critical as it highlights the integrity of individuals nominated for key government positions.
Out of the 14 nominees listed on the order paper, seven, including former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, were asked to take a bow and leave, while four others successfully underwent screening. This approach allows some nominees to avoid lengthy questioning, raising questions about the transparency of the screening process.
The seven nominees who were asked to take a bow and go include former two-term members of the House of Representatives, Abubakar Momoh from Etsako Local Government Area of Edo State, and Senator Abubakar Kyari, who served in the 8th and 9th Senate and currently acts as the Acting National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Also, Senator John Enoh, a former senator in the 8th Senate, and the immediate past governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru, were among those who were exempted from further questioning.
Additionally, former Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Nkiru Onyejeocha, who represented Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in Abia State, and Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, who has served as the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany since 2017, were also asked to take a bow and go.
Nominees Under Investigation
However, three nominees’ screening was put on hold for clarification. Prof. Joseph Utsev, currently the Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Wannune, from Benue State, raised concerns as his resume stated that he was born in 1980 and completed his primary education in 1989 at the age of nine, which implies he was in primary one at the age of three. Such discrepancies can undermine the credibility of nominees in the Senate.
Senator Abubakar Sani Danladi from Taraba State was alleged to have been banned by the Supreme Court from holding public office for ten years, and Bello Mohammed from Sokoto State faced issues related to his secondary school leaving certificate.
The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, assured that the cases of those with issues would be thoroughly investigated during the confirmation stage. This assurance aims to reinforce public trust in the Senate’s commitment to integrity in its proceedings.
Furthermore, the names of three nominees, Arch. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa from Katsina State, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji from Enugu State, and Stella Erhuvwuoghene Okotete from Delta State, appeared on the Order Paper, but they were not screened. Their absence from the screening process raises additional questions about the selection criteria and oversight in the nomination process.
The screening process, which began at 1:32 pm, lasted until 6 pm and commenced with the two-term House of Representatives member, Abubakar Momoh, representing Etsako Local Government Area of Edo State. The lengthy process reflects the Senate’s careful consideration of each nominee, especially in light of the alleged issues surrounding some of them.
