One of the five nominees put forward by President Bola Tinubu for appointment as members of the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Urum Kalu-Eke, has declined the appointment. Meanwhile, the Senate has confirmed the appointment of the other four nominees.
The Senate, on Thursday, February 29, confirmed Mr. Robert Agbide, Mr. Ado Yakubu Wanka, Prof. Murtala Sabo Sagagi, and Mrs. Muslimat Olanike Aliyu as members of the CBN Board of Directors.
President Tinubu had initially submitted the names of Kalu-Eke and four others to the Senate for confirmation. However, Kalu-Eke did not participate in the screening conducted by the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Other Financial Institutions.
This information was disclosed on Thursday during the Senate’s consideration of the committee’s report, chaired by Senator Adetokunbo Abiru (APC – Lagos-East).
Abiru, in recommending the remaining four nominees for Senate confirmation, stated that Kalu-Eke did not appear before the committee for the screening process.
In response to this development, former Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Kalu, provided insight into Kalu-Eke’s decision to decline the appointment. Senator Kalu, noting that Kalu-Eke is from his constituency, explained that the nominee informed him of ongoing engagements and consultations with various public and private entities within and outside the country.
Kalu-Eke, aged 60, is a former Group Managing Director of FBN Holdings, serving until December 2021. He has also held positions as an executive director with First Bank and has worked with Diamond Bank Plc and Deloitte Haskins & Sells International in the past.