Senate Dismisses Claim Of Petitions Against Omokri, Fani-Kayode, Others

The Senate has refuted the claims that it received petitions or protest letters against any of President Bola Tinubu’s 65 ambassadorial nominees currently undergoing screening before the upper legislative chamber.

The Senate’s clarification followed unverified reports circulating within political circles and across social media alleging that some nominees, including former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode, ex-presidential aide Reno Omokri, and a former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, were facing opposition ahead of their confirmation.

Speaking with journalists on Thursday in Abuja, Senate Spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, insisted that no petition had been submitted to the upper chamber against the nominees.

Asked specifically about the alleged petitions, Adaramodu maintained he was not aware of any such correspondence.

“I am telling you that we didn’t receive petitions from anybody, organisation, or legal entity — not even from any faceless, outlawed, or rogue element. There was no petition against any nominee,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs continued its ambassadorial screening for the second consecutive day on Thursday, with several high-profile nominees appearing before lawmakers.

The exercise has attracted heightened public interest, particularly following debates over some nominees’ political histories and professional qualifications.
Providing an update on the process, Adaramodu said lawmakers had already screened more than half of the nominees.

“So far, within the last one and a half days, they have screened more than half. Let me say they have screened not less than 40 now,” he noted.

However, LEADERSHIP could not independently verify as of press time whether all 65 nominees had been screened.

Adaramodu also rejected suggestions that all nominees were simply asked to “take a bow and go,” a practice frequently criticised as inadequate.

“It is not true. Since yesterday (Wednesday), they were being questioned on their capacity and capability during the screening. Today is also not different,” he said.

He explained that the nominees had already undergone extensive vetting by security agencies, including background checks by the Department of State Services (DSS) and clearance processes through INEC for those previously engaged in election-related duties.

The Senate, he added, does not attempt to duplicate areas already covered by statutory vetting bodies. “Besides, they have gone through all the rigours and crucibles of screening, either from INEC or security agencies, so much that we have little or nothing more to add — except if anybody is bringing up complaints or issues. When that one is brought up, we will treat it. We will not tell the person to take it back,” he said.

He further stated, “I am assuring you that all other nominees are undergoing the crucibles. We have been questioning them since yesterday and even tested their competence.”

The screening exercise is expected to conclude this week, setting the stage for the Senate to either confirm or reject the nominees in the days ahead.