Urum Kalu Eke, nominated for a position on the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has declined the offer, citing his current engagement with the World Bank. This was revealed during the Senate’s Thursday plenary session, where the confirmation process for the nominees commenced.
President Bola Tinubu had submitted Eke’s name along with four others for confirmation on February 13. However, during the confirmation proceedings, Senator Orji Kalu, former Governor of Abia State representing Abia North under the APC, informed the Senate that Eke, who is from his constituency, had communicated his rejection of the offer via phone call. Eke expressed concern that accepting the position would clash with his role as a consultant to the World Bank, various federal government agencies, and private companies.
Meanwhile, the Senate confirmed the appointments of four other individuals to the CBN Board of Directors, as nominated by the President.
Those confirmed include Robert Agbede, Ado Yakubu Wanka, Professor Murtala Sabo Sagagi, and Mrs Muslimat Olanike Aliyu. The confirmation followed the review of a screening report presented by Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance & Other Financial Institutions, representing Lagos East under the APC.
Senator Abiru explained that the Committee did not clear Urum Kalu Eke due to his non-appearance for screening.
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