The Senate, on Wednesday, screened three ambassadorial nominees forwarded by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—most notably former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayodele Oke whose nomination has revived public debate over the 2017 “Ikoyi apartment cash” scandal.
The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Senator Sani Bello (APC, Niger North), also screened two other nominees: Kayode Are (Ogun State) and Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa State).
Ambassador Oke, whose nomination initially generated pushback among lawmakers, presented official court documents showing that he had been fully cleared of all allegations tied to the high-profile case. Senators Ali Ndume and Henry Seriake Dickson had raised concerns regarding the scandal, prompting the committee to request clarity.
After reviewing the court ruling and Oke’s responses, Senator Bello confirmed that the committee was satisfied with the evidence presented.
Oke, a seasoned intelligence and diplomatic officer, served as NIA DG between 2013 and 2017 and previously represented Nigeria at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London. His supporters argued that his decades-long career in intelligence and foreign relations positions him as a strong candidate for a non-career ambassadorial appointment.
His career came under heavy scrutiny in 2017 after authorities uncovered $43.4 million, £27,800, and ₦23.2 million in a private apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos. The funds were linked to Oke and his wife, resulting in allegations of money laundering and conversion of government property. A Federal High Court in Lagos later issued an arrest warrant after the couple failed to appear in court.
However, in 2023, the Federal Government withdrew all charges, and the court subsequently struck out the case, clearing Oke and his spouse of wrongdoing.
During Wednesday’s screening, senators revisited the incident, but Oke’s presentation of the court judgment and a detailed explanation were deemed adequate. Senator Bello noted that the committee had no further reservations.
President Tinubu had transmitted the nominees’ names to the Senate last week in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Their nomination forms part of a wider ambassadorial list, with 32 additional nominees yet to be formally introduced during plenary.
The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs is expected to submit its report in the coming days, after which the upper chamber will determine whether to confirm the nominees.
With the court clearance formally placed on record, Oke’s path to ambassadorial appointment now appeared significantly strengthened.
