CBN Board Nominee, Kalu Eke, Rejects Tinubu’s Appointment

One of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s nominees for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Board of Directors, Urum Kalu Eke, has rejected the appointment.

The news broke on February 29, 2024, when the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Other Financial Institutions held a screening exercise for the nominees.

Kalu Eke, who hails from Abia State, was among the five nominees forwarded by President Tinubu to the Senate for confirmation.

However, he did not attend the screening exercise, which raised concerns among the committee members.

Senator Mikhail Abiru, representing Lagos East Senatorial District, informed the Senate that Eke failed to appear for the screening.

Senator Orji Kalu, who is also from Abia State, mentioned that Eke had called him to say that accepting the position would lead to a conflict of interest with his current work as a consultant for various public and private organizations within and outside Nigeria.

The Senate, presided over by Deputy President Senator Barau Jibrin, acknowledged Eke’s decision to decline the appointment and proceeded to confirm the other four nominees.

This unexpected development has caused a stir in the Nigerian political scene, as it is rare for a nominee to reject a prestigious appointment such as a position on the CBN Board of Directors.

The rejection of the appointment by Urum Kalu Eke has made headlines, and the reasons cited for his decision have sparked discussions about potential conflicts of interest and the importance of transparency in public office.