Kalu rejects Tinubu’s appointment to the CBN Board.

Urum Kalu Eke, President Bola Tinubu’s nomination from Abia State for a seat on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) board of directors, has declined the appointment, according to the Senate.

The Senate is now looking into other candidates for the position as a result of this surprising decision, which has raised questions about Eke’s reasons for declining.
On Thursday, though, the Senate approved the nomination of four more people—all recommended by President Bola Tinubu—to the CBN’s board of directors.

Robert Agbede, Ado Yakubu Wanka, Mrs. Muslimat Olanike Aliyu, and Professor Murtala Sabo Sagagi are the verified directors.

This confirmation followed a review by the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance & Other Financial Institutions, chaired by Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, APC, Lagos East, which assessed the screening report of the nominees.

Senator Adetokunbo Abiru stated, “The Senate receives and considers the report 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.”

He revealed that Urum Kalu Eke from Abia was not cleared by the Committee due to his absence during the screening process.

Former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, APC, Abia North, informed the Senate that Eke declined the offer, citing a potential conflict with his current role as a consultant with the World Bank.

In a letter to the Senate last week, President Bola Tinubu had sought the screening and confirmation of five individuals appointed as directors of the CBN board, including Robert Agbide, Ado Wanga, Murtala Sagaley, Urom Kalu Eke, and Olayinka Aliyu.

Tinubu explained that the request was in compliance with the provisions of section 6(1a) of the section 10(1)(2) of the CBN Act, 2007, stating, “I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate the appointments of the underlisted five persons as directors of the board of the CBN.”