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The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has called on the Senate, the Department of State Services (DSS) to immediately reject the nomination of former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayodele Oke, as a non-career ambassador, citing unresolved corruption allegations.
President Bola Tinubu had forwarded three non-career ambassadorial nominees — Kayode Are (Ogun), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa) and Ayodele Oke (Oyo) — to the Senate for confirmation, nearly two years after the recall of all Nigerian ambassadors in September 2023.
However, in a statement on Thursday, CISLAC argued that Oke’s nomination is inappropriate, pointing his long-standing corruption case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the statement Oke and his wife were declared wanted after they failed to appear before a Federal High Court in Lagos to answer charges linked to the discovery of $43.4 million, £27,800 and ₦23.2 million in an Ikoyi apartment in April 2017.
“An arrest warrant was subsequently issued for the couple on February 7, 2019, by Justice Chukwujeku Aneke,” the group noted.
CISLAC’s Executive Director and Head of Transparency International Nigeria, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, described the nomination as “troubling, embarrassing and a severe dent on Nigeria’s commitment to transparency, accountability and anti-corruption.”
“It is disturbing and totally unacceptable that someone with an active corruption case and an outstanding arrest warrant is being considered for a strategic diplomatic position,” Rafsanjani said.
“This nomination sends the wrong signal to the international community that Nigeria rewards impunity rather than upholding the rule of law,” he added.
He warned that allowing individuals under investigation to secure political appointments “undermines the work of anti-corruption agencies such as the EFCC and ICPC,” adding that government must not be seen to be sabotaging its own institutions.
“When people with unresolved criminal allegations are cleared for public appointments, it weakens the efforts of our anti-corruption institutions,” he said.
“These agencies work tirelessly to ensure that those involved in corruption are held accountable, not rewarded,” the statement partly read.
Rafsanjani also questioned the integrity of the security vetting process that led to Oke’s nomination. “The DSS and other security agencies must explain how an individual reportedly on a watchlist passed their screening,” he stated.
He stressed that ambassadorial roles are critical to shaping Nigeria’s global image. “Ambassadorial appointments represent Nigeria’s values and credibility abroad,” he said. “Appointing someone declared wanted for alleged money laundering and criminal breach of trust embarrasses the nation diplomatically.”
CISLAC urged the Senate to take a firm stand. “We urge the National Assembly to rise to the occasion and reject this nomination,” Rafsanjani said. “Lawmakers have a responsibility to protect the sanctity of public office.”
Rafsanjani called on President Tinubu to reconsider the appointment, insisting that Nigeria must only send representatives of “the highest integrity” to foreign missions.
“Nigeria must not send envoys who carry the burden of unresolved corruption allegations,” he concluded.
“Our foreign missions must reflect transparency, accountability and the highest standards of public service.”
