The presidency, on Thursday, listed Usman Dakingari, former governor of Kebbi, as an ambassador-designate to Turkey despite his name not appearing on the list of nominees confirmed by the senate.
The presidency had on Thursday evening announced the posting of four ambassador-designates, among whom was Dakingari, saying the appointments were made “out of the 68 confirmed by the Senate last December”. ”.
Kayode Are, former director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS), was appointed Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to the United States.
Ayodele Oke, former director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), was posted to France; Amin Dalhatu, former ambassador to South Korea.
However, the presidency withdrew Dakingari’s posting barely 24 hours after the announcement.
The withdrawal raised questions about how a name not confirmed by the senate could be presented as part of the list.
Under the constitution, the senate confirms ambassadorial nominees submitted by the president by name, not by vacancy or post-confirmation substitution.
Once confirmation is concluded, the list of approved nominees is deemed final.
However, the presidency’s statement suggests that Dakingari’s posting flows from the senate’s confirmation exercise.
The list transmitted to the senate by President Bola Tinubu in December was screened, debated and approved by the upper chamber.
That list comprised 34 career ambassadorial nominees, 31 non-career nominees and three earlier cleared names.
The confirmed career nominees included Abubakar Musa Musa and Mohammed Idris, who are both from Kebbi state.
However, the non-career nominees from Kebbi were not listed among the confirmed names.
Dakingari’s name did not appear on the list acted upon by the senate.
Thirty-four of the confirmed nominees are career ambassadors, while 30 are non-career ambassadors.
The development has sparked concerns about legislative legitimacy and the integrity of official records.
Observers say the issue is not about the timing or destination of postings, but whether senate confirmation is being misrepresented.
The controversy comes weeks after Abdussamad Dasuki, a member of the house of representatives from Sokoto, claimed that the gazetted tax laws are different from the version passed by the national assembly.
In that instance, contentious provisions were said to have appeared in official texts after legislative consideration had ended.
BELOW IS THE LIST SENT BY TINUBU TO THE SENATE FOR CONFIRMATION
CAREER AMBASSADORS (34)
Abia: Ambassador Mwaobiola Ezeuwo Chukwuemeka
Adamawa: Maimuna Ibrahim
Anambra: Enpeji Monica Okochukwu
Bauchi: Ambassador Mohammed Mahmoud Lele
Bayelsa: Endoni Sindup
Borno: Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno
Cross River: Ambassador Jen Adams Ni Okun Michael
Delta: Ambassador Clark Omeru Alexandra
Ebonyi: Chima J. Leoma Davies
Edo: Oduma Yvonne Ehinose
Edo: Wasa Shogun Ige
Ekiti: Ambassador Adeyemi Adebayo Emmanuel
Enugu: Ambassador Onaga Ogechukwu Kingsley
Jigawa: Ambassador Magaji Umar
Kaduna: Ambassador Mohammed Saidu Dahiru
Kano: Ambassador Abdul Salam Abus Zayat
Katsina: Ambassador Shehu
Katsina: Ambassador Aminu Nasu
Kebbi: Abubakar Musa Musa
Kebbi: Ambassador Haidara Mohammed Idris
Kogi: Ambassador Bako Adamu Umar
Kwara: Ambassador Sulu Gambari
Lagos: Ambassador Romata Mohammed Omobolanle
Nasarawa: Ambassador Shaga John Shama
Niger: Salau Hamza Mohammed
Niger: Ambassador Ibrahim Dan Lamy
Ogun: Adjola Ibrahim Mopolola
Ondo: Ruben Abimbola Samuel
Osun: Ambassador Akonde Wahab Adekola
Oyo: Ambassador Ariwani Adedokun Esther
Plateau: Ambassador Gedagi Joseph John
Rivers: Ambassador Luther Obomode Ayokatata
Taraba: Danladi Yakubu Yaku
Zamfara: Bidu Dogondagi
NON-CAREER AMBASSADORS (31)
35. Dr. Victor Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia)
36. Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia)
37. Adamawa: Senator Grace Bent
38. Akwa Ibom: Senator Eta Enang
39. Anambra: Nkechi Linda Okocha
40. Bauchi: Mahmoud Yakubu
41. Bayelsa: Philip K. Ikurusi
42. Benue: Paul Olga Adiku
43. Cross River: Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (rtd.)
44. Delta State: Reno Omokri
45. Edo: Hon. Abbasi Brahma
46. Ekiti: Erelu Angela Adebayo
47. Ekiti: Barrister Olumilua Oluwayemika
48. Enugu: Rt. Hon. Ugwanyi Ifeanyi
49. Imo: Barr. Mrs. Chioma Ohakim
50. Kano: Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd.)
51. Katsina: Hon. Tasiu Musa Maigari
52. Kogi: Alhaji Abubakar Sanusi Aliu
53. Lagos: Olufemi Pedro
54. Nasarawa: Barr. Mohammed Obanduma Aliu
55. Ondo: Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, PhD
56. Ondo: Ambassador Joseph Yusuf Shara’aji
57. Osun: Fani-Kayode
58. Oyo: Ajimobi Fatima Florence
59. Oyo: Lola Akande
60. Plateau: Yakubu N. Gambo
61. Plateau: Senator Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut
62. Rivers: Onweze Chukwudi
63. Sokoto: Dr. Kulu Haruna Abubakar
64. Taraba: Rt. Hon. Jerry Samuel Manwe
65. Yobe: Adamu Garba Tarba-Nagri
66. Oyo State: Ayodele Oke
67. Jigawa: Amin Mohammed Dalhatu
68. Ogun: Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are
