Urum Kalu Eke, a nominee for membership on the Central Bank of Nigeria Board of Directors, has denied the offer, citing his current position with the World Bank.
This came to light at Thursday’s session when the Senate began the process of confirming the nominees.
On February 13, President Bola Tinubu forwarded Urum’s and four others’ names for approval as CBN board members.
However, during the confirmation hearing, the former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Kalu (APC, Abia North), informed the Senate that Ulum Kalu Eke had called him to decline the offer, citing a conflict with his current position as a consultant with the World Bank.
He said, “The nominee told me this role would conflict with his job as a consultant to the World Bank, federal government agencies, and other private companies.”
Meanwhile, the Senate has confirmed the nomination of four other members of the CBN’s Board of Directors, as recommended by the President.
The Senate confirmed four directors on Thursday: Robert Agbede, Ado Yakubu Wanka, Professor Murtala Sabo Sagagi, and Mrs. Muslimat Olanike Aliyu.
The approval came after Senator Adetokunbo Abiru (APC, Lagos East), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Other Financial Institutions, delivered a report on the nominee’s screening.
Abiru said, “That the Senate do receive and consider 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 by sections 6(1), (2)(d), and 10 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.”
According to him, Urum Kalu Eke was not cleared from Abia since he did not come before the committee for screening.
