Urum Kalu-Eke, one of the nominees put forward by President Bola Tinubu for appointment as members of the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has turned down the offer. Meanwhile, the Senate has confirmed the appointment of the remaining four nominees.
Confirmed by the Senate on Thursday, February 29, were Mr. Robert Agbide, Mr. Ado Yakubu Wanka, Prof. Murtala Sabo Sagagi, and Mrs. Muslimat Olanike Aliyu.
Although President Tinubu had nominated Kalu-Eke and four others for the position, Kalu-Eke declined to participate in the screening conducted by the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Other Financial Institutions.
During the Senate’s consideration of the committee’s report, chaired by Senator Adetokunbo Abiru (APC – Lagos-East), Abiru disclosed that Kalu-Eke did not appear for the screening. Consequently, the committee could not recommend him for confirmation.
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In response to this development, former Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Kalu, revealed Kalu-Eke’s reason for declining the appointment. Senator Kalu, representing Kalu-Eke’s constituency, explained that the nominee was preoccupied with engagements and consultations for various public and private bodies within and outside the country. Kalu-Eke believed that accepting the appointment would conflict with his current commitments.
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Kalu-Eke, aged 60, is a former Group Managing Director of FBN Holdings, having served until December 2021. He has held executive positions at First Bank, Diamond Bank Plc, and Deloitte Haskins & Sells International.