The Senate, Monday, deffered the confirmation of the former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, as the Minister of the Federal Republic.

Stella Okotete and Abubakar Danladi, both nominees from Delta and Taraba States, respectively, also suffered the same fate, as they were said to be undergoing security clearance.

A Senator from Kogi West, Sunday Karimi, had submitted a petition against El-Rufai during the screening exercise.

The Senate President, Goodswill Akpabio had also hinted that there were many other petitions against other nominees, adding that same would be referred to the ‘nominating agency’.

Although, no petition was brought against Okotete at the floor of the Senate, reports have suggested that the nominee was under investigation over allegations of forged document, fraud.

Danladi, on his part, according to a report on the website of the Taraba State Government, www.tarabastate.gov.ng, was barred in 2019, from contesting or holding public office for 10 years. 

An Online platform, SaharaReporters has reported how The Nigeria Police Force ordered a discreet investigation of Okotete, a former Executive Director, Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), ‘over falsification of document and monumental fraud.’

The investigation order, according to SaharaReporters, followed a petition by one Barrister Aare Oladotun Hassan of Juryman Associate Chambers against the nominee.

Okotete, in the petition directed to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, was alleged of falsification of documents, fraudulent misrepresentation of qualification to hold Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN's) statutory position, corrupt practice, monumental fraud and misappropriation.

The police investigation plan partly reads: "The petition was endorsed to the DIG FCIID Abuja via letter No. CB:7000/IGP SEC/AB)/VOL.613/ 312 dated 23/01/2023 and re-endorsed to the CP GI Section via letter No. CB: 7000/X/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.592/85 dated 03/02/2023 for discreet investigation."

The Code of Conduct Bureau, it was also reported, had written the nominee, demanding her pay slip, statements of account for the ongoing investigation against her.

The CCB in a letter addressed to her, according to the report, with Ref:CCB/HQ/II&M/007/NB/099, and signed by the Director, Intelligence & Monitoring (II&M) Dr. Gwimi S. P, for the Chairman, said the Bureau was currently investigating a case of alleged breach of Code of Conduct for Public Officers against her office.

Abubakar Danladi, 2019 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, it was reported, had been barred by the Supreme Court, since 2019, from contesting or holding political offices for 10 years over alleged certificate forgery and age falsification.

A publication on the Taraba State website, as sighted by HorizonTimes, confirmed how Danladi was barred in 2019 from contesting or holding political offices over alleged certificate forgery and age falsification.

The Senate has however confirmed the other 45 nominees of the President confirming them as cabinet members after a week of intense grilling for some and cursory introductions for others.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the nominations to a series of voice votes, of which all but three were approved.

The confirmation comes over a week after Tinubu’s transmission of a 28-man-list to the red chamber for confirmation on July 27.

Last Monday, the Senate screened former governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike; Abubakar Kyari of Borno State; Nkiruka Onyejeocha (Abia State); Bello Muhammad (Sokoto State); Sani Abubakar Danladi (Taraba State); and Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa State).

Others are Joseph Utsev (Benue State), Olubunmi Tunji Ojo (Ondo State), Betta Edu (Cross River State), Uju Kennedy Ohaneye (Anambra State), Abubakar Momoh (Edo State), John Enoh (Cross River State), Iman Suleiman Ibrahim (Nasarawa State), and Yusuf Maitama Tuggar (Bauchi State).

The Senate on Tuesday screened ex-governors El-Rufai, Kaduna, Daves Umahi, Ebonyi; Wale Edun, Uche Nnaji, Stella Okotete, Adebayo Adelabu, Ekperikpe Ekpo, Hannatu Musawa, and Musa Dangiwa.

The following day, the red chamber screened Dele Alake, Lateef Fagbemi and Muhammad Idris, Ali Pate, and Doris Uzoka.

Tinubu went on to send a suplementary list of 19 nominees to the Senate last Wednesday.

Two days later, the President withdrew the nomination of Maryam Shetty of Kano State from the list, replacing her with Festus Keyamo and Mariya Mahmoud.

On Friday, the Senate screened Zephaniah Jisalo, Shuaibu Audu, Yusuf Sununu, Bello Matawalle, Alkali Saidu, Ahmed Gwarzo, Atiku Bagudu, Simon Lalong, Ibrahim Gaidam, Aliu Abdullahi, Gboyega Oyetola, Heineken Lokpobiri and Tunji Alausa.

The screening continued at Senate on Saturday with Lola Ade-John, Bosun Tijani, Isiak Salako, Tahir Mamman, and Maigari Ahmadu.