Breaking News: South-East Nominee Declines CBN Board Appointment Following Senate Confirmation of Four Candidates

By Aaron Elekwachi

Urum Kalu Eke, the nominee from the South-East for membership on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Board of Directors, has declined his appointment. Eke opted out by abstaining from the Senate Committee's screening session, where the other four nominees were present.

During the Senate plenary on Thursday, Senator Adetokunbo Abiru (APC, Lagos East), the chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and other Financial Institutions, disclosed this while presenting his committee's report on the screening of the CBN Board of Director nominees.

Despite Eke's absence, the Senate confirmed the appointments of the other four nominees to the CBN Board of Directors: Mr. Robert Agbede, Mr. Ado Yakubu Wanka, Professor Murtala Sabo Sagagi, and Mrs. Muslimat Olanike Aliyu.

Senator Abiru informed the Senate that Mr. Urum Kalu Eke, hailing from Abia State, did not attend the screening session. He recommended the confirmation of the other four nominees who participated in the screening.

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North), a member of the Senate Committee, explained that Eke declined the appointment due to potential conflicts of interest. He cited Eke's role as a consultant to the World Bank and other international financial institutions, which would hinder his ability to serve effectively as a CBN Director.

During the confirmation process, Senator Abiru noted that all nominees exhibited a strong understanding of economic knowledge and policies, with no petitions lodged against them. The Senate unanimously confirmed their appointments, as declared by Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, who presided over the session.

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