The Nigerian Senate has confirmed the nomination of Reno Omokri, a former presidential aide, and Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as non-career ambassadors.
The confirmations followed the adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which screened ambassadorial nominees forwarded by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In all, the Red Chamber confirmed the nominations of both career and non-career ambassadors submitted by the President, with the exception of the nominee from Yobe State, who was reported to have passed away.
Omokri’s confirmation came after a tense moment during his screening last week, when a shouting match reportedly broke out between Senators Adams Oshiomhole and Ali Ndume, briefly disrupting proceedings.
During the same screening exercise, former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, and former Minister of Interior, Bello Dambazzau, were asked to “take a bow and go,” a parliamentary practice reserved for nominees whose credentials and prior public service are deemed sufficient.
The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs acknowledged that both men had previously undergone extensive security and public service vetting, citing Fani-Kayode’s tenure as a two-time Minister of Information and Aviation, and Dambazzau’s service as Minister of Interior.
With the confirmation concluded, the approved nominees are expected to assume their diplomatic postings once formally deployed by the executive.
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