- Safiu Kehinde
President Bola Tinubu has written to the Senate, seeking the approval of three ambassadorial nominees.
Tinubu’s letter containing request for the approval of the nominees was read before the Senate during the Red Chamber’s plenary session on Wednesday.
As read by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the nominees include Kayode Are from Ogun State, Aminu Dalhatu from Jigawa State, and Ayodele Oke.
Akpabio however disclosed that more names are still expected from the President.
“The list contains three names for now. I am sure others will follow,” Akpabio said after reading the letter from Tinubu.
Profile of Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees
Lastly, Oyo state-born Ayodele Oke is a retired career diplomat & former Director General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA) with over three decades of service in Nigeria’s foreign affairs and intelligence sectors.
He has expertise in international relations, multilateral diplomacy, and national security, serving as Nigeria’s top intelligence chief from 2013 to 2017 under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
Oke was however suspended in April 2017 by Jonathan’s successor, late Muhammadu Buhari, pending investigation into recovered funds at a Lagos apartment.
While he was fully dismissed in October 2017, the legal case against him was terminated in June 2023 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as no wrongdoing was found against him.
The court subsequently withdrew proceedings.
Prior to his appointment by Jonathan, Oke served as ambassador to the Commonwealth Secretariat London, United Kingdom from 2005 to 2009.
He represented Nigeria in multilateral engagements with the Commonwealth of Nations, advancing diplomatic, economic, and governance initiatives.
He also contributed to high-level policy dialogues and bilateral relations within the 56-member organization.